The Times of Harvey Milk

The Times of Harvey Milk
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Name	The Times of Harvey Milk
Director	Rob Epstein
Producer	Rob Epstein
Starring	Harvey Milk; Dan White; Dianne Feinstein; George Moscone; Cleve Jones; Anne Kronenberg
Music	Mark Isham
Cinematography	Casper Petraeus
Editing	Jay Freund; Marcia J. Michel
Studio	Telling Pictures
Distributor	New Yorker Films
Released	1984
Runtime	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Times of Harvey Milk is a 1984 American documentary film directed by Rob Epstein about the life, political career, assassination, and legacy of San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk. The film situates Milk within the political milieu of San Francisco, the activism of the LGBT rights movement, and the aftermath that involved figures such as Dan White and Dianne Feinstein. Combining archival footage, news clips, and interviews with contemporaries like Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg, the film traces intersections with broader events including the White Night riots and the 1970s culture of California politics.

Overview

The documentary profiles Harvey Milk from his early life through his campaigns for public office, culminating in his 1978 election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and his assassination alongside George Moscone by former supervisor Dan White. The narrative frames Milk's role within movements including the Stonewall riots' legacy, the emergence of gay political organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, and the responses of municipal institutions like the San Francisco Police Department and the Mayor of San Francisco's office. Interviews reference national figures and institutions including Mayor Dianne Feinstein, the California State Assembly, and grassroots activists connected to groups like ACT UP and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Production

Directed and produced by Rob Epstein with production by Telling Pictures, the filmmakers assembled archival material from television outlets such as KQED, KNBR (AM), and national broadcasters including NBC and The New York Times. Epstein collaborated with composer Mark Isham and editors who integrated footage of Milk's speeches, campaign posters, and press conferences. Contributors and interviewees include contemporaries and politicians such as Dianne Feinstein, labor leaders from the Teamsters, activists from the Gay Men's Health Crisis era, and cultural figures tied to San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley. Legal and political context was provided through reference to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meetings, municipal court transcripts, and the trial of Dan White.

Release and Distribution

After completion, the film premiered at film festivals including engagements affiliated with Sundance Film Festival circuits and screenings in venues like Castro Theatre and community centers in San Francisco and New York City. Distribution was handled by New Yorker Films with theatrical releases in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.. Educational distribution reached campuses including University of California, Los Angeles, Columbia University, University of Michigan, and public libraries through partnerships with LGBT organizations and archives like the GLBT Historical Society. Broadcast windows included PBS and specialty programs that connected the documentary to retrospectives on 1970s politics and gay rights milestones like Harvey Milk Day commemorations.

Reception and Impact

Critics from publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and Newsweek praised the film's archival assembly and emotional resonance, noting its attention to municipal politics involving figures such as George Moscone and Dianne Feinstein. The documentary influenced public discourse on the consequences of the trial of Dan White, the perceived leniency leading to the White Night riots, and subsequent reforms in city governance and law enforcement practices tied to the San Francisco Police Department. It was cited in scholarship at institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Yale University for studies of social movements, queer studies programs, and courses referencing the AIDS crisis and activist responses by groups like ACT UP and Queer Nation.

Legacy and Influence

The film helped solidify Harvey Milk as an icon within the LGBT rights movement and influenced later portrayals across media, including biographical treatments by filmmakers like Dustin Lance Black and productions at venues including Theatre Rhinoceros and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. Its archival methods informed documentary practice at organizations such as the American Film Institute and festivals including Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary's prominence contributed to political recognitions such as the establishment of Harvey Milk Day in California and influenced named dedications at sites like Castro Street and civic dialogues in the California State Legislature.

Awards and Honors

The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 56th Academy Awards and earned accolades from festival juries including honors from Sundance Film Festival affiliates and the National Society of Film Critics. It received recognition from cultural institutions such as the Library of Congress and has been preserved by archival programs associated with the National Film Registry and university collections at UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Museum of Modern Art film department.

Category:1984 films Category:Documentary films about politics Category:Documentary films about LGBT people