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The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution 2015 1h 54m Documentary History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 65 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture.
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The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

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Critics Consensus

The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution offers a fascinating -- if somewhat rudimentary -- introduction to a movement, and an era, that remains soberingly relevant today.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/01/2017
If you're doing general research on the Panthers and a need resource, or interested in learning more about their story (from a male perspective only), THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION is definitely for you. Go to Full Review
Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association 03/15/2017
Stick with this movie. It has a lot to say, a lot to reveal and is pertinent to today's testy police/civilian race relations. Go to Full Review
Donald Clarke Irish Times 10/30/2015
3/5
Vanguard of the Revolution is at its strongest when it entertains female voices: Elaine Brown, Kathleen Cleaver, Ericka Huggins. Their fire is vigorously undimmed. Go to Full Review
Angus Batey NME (New Musical Express) 05/18/2021
3/5
An absorbing and timely look at the Black Panther Party and American police violence. Go to Full Review
David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 06/09/2020
The fact that the Black Panthers were an Oakland, CA-launched group only adds to the importance of African-American doc-maker Stanley Nelson's new film. Go to Full Review
John Bleasdale CineVue 04/08/2019
3/5
This tragic see-saw, which sees revolutionary enthusiasm digging the grave of revolution, is the subject of Stanley Nelson's angry, sorrowful, yet invigorating and timely history of the movement. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 4 Real footage in 1 hour and 54 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $482,400.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 01/24/2019 The world was robbed when Fred Hampton was murdered. See more 07/21/2018 A fantastic documentary about so much of the untold story of the Black Panthers, as well as the targeting of activists by the FBI and others in law enforcement. See more 06/12/2018 true heroes of there time! See more 01/12/2017 All Power to the People See more 06/06/2016 Review: This is an extremely deep documentary about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers in America, and I must admit, I did find some of it slightly boring. Don't get me wrong, I did find the subject matter very interesting and the various interviews with fellow members and witnesses to the terrible police brutality towards them, was very touching but it does drag a bit and I personally don't find watching Black people getting treated like animals, that entertaining. I was left feeling extremely bitter when this graphic documentary had finished but I still learnt a lot about this powerful movement. The different scenarios which are highlighted throughout the movie, were quite shocking, especially the corruption with the law, but it was still good to see how far a radical group can go, when they pull together to fight for there rights. I will say this though, you really have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it because there are some scenes which are pretty upsetting but it's still worth a watch. Anyway, if your into your black history films, then this is definitely the movie for you, because it's an important part of history which will never be forgotten. Watchable! Round-Up: This documentary was written and directed by Stanley Nelson, 60, who has brought you various documentaries, like The Black Press, Marcus Garvey, Beyond Brown, A Place Of Our Own, Jonestown, Wounded Knee and Freedom Summer, which are all based around important periods in black history. He certainly done well to get interviews with different Black Panther members and officers of the law but it really didn't have to be nearly 2 hours long. Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $600,000 I recommend this movie to people who are into their documentaries about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers. 5/10 See more Read all reviews
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Stanley Nelson examines the rise of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s and its impact on civil rights and American culture.
Director
Stanley Nelson
Producer
Laurens Grant, Stanley Nelson
Screenwriter
Stanley Nelson
Distributor
PBS
Production Co
Firelight Films
Genre
Documentary, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 2, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$482.4K
Runtime
1h 54m
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