The Times of Harvey Milk

About The Times of Harvey Milk

The Times of Harvey Milk, released in 1984, is an American documentary film that chronicles the political career of Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay elected official. Focusing on his courageous fight for gay rights, the film puts into perspective his groundbreaking contribution and tragic assassination in 1978. The narrative explores both the personal and political aspects of Harvey Milk's life and legacy.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Richard Schmiechen and directed by Rob Epstein, who spent five years completing the film after Harvey Milk's assassination. Combining archival footage with contemporary interviews, the film provides a profound historical account and human portrait of Harvey Milk.

Actors

• Harvey Fierstein: He lent his voice as the film's narrator, delivering an impactful performance that connects various elements of the plot.
• Harvey Milk: Despite being a documentary, Milk's charismatic presence pervades every aspect of the film due to the extensive use of archive footage. His fiery speeches and candid interviews capture his spirit and political agenda.
• Anne Kronenberg: As one of the prominent interviewees in the documentary, she was Milk's campaign manager and offers personal insights into his life and work.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie is one of the first feature-length documentaries to address gay life in America.
• It includes the last interview conducted with former San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone, who was assassinated alongside Harvey Milk.
• The making of the film was facilitated by contributions from the gay community in the form of both funds and footage.

Awards

The Times of Harvey Milk was widely recognized for its excellence in documentary filmmaking and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1985. It has also been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Quotes

• "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." - Harvey Milk
• "All men are created equal. Now matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words." - Harvey Milk

Music, Soundtrack

• The documentary's score was composed by Mark Isham, adding emotional resonance to the story with his music.
• The film also features "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" performed by Scott McKenzie, reflecting the spirit of the city and the times.