This is a docudrama about the trial of the Chicago 7. I earlier reviewed the recent 2020 Netflix film by Aaron Sorkin called "The Trial of the Chicago 7." The 1987 film has the advantage of including brief interviews with each of the defendants and the two defense lawyers. Both lawyers and at least three of the defendants were dead by the time of the 2020 film.
The unique characteristics of the 1987 film were that it takes place solely within the courtroom using language from the trial transcripts. The setting is that the viewer is in the position of a jury member; on numerous occasions, the lawyers speak directly into the camera. In the background on occasion, clips are shown from actual footage taken on the streets of Chicago and inside the convention hall. Bobby Seale (Carl Lumbly) has the highest profile in the film as his demand for recognition of his constitutional rights receives major play. David Dellinger (Peter Boyle) has a much larger role than in the Netflix film, as does Rennie Davis (Robert Carradine). Davis is a much stronger character than portrayed in the Netflix production.
Abbie Hoffman (Michael Lembeck) and Jerry Rubin (Barry Miller) play the Yippie roles well, though Abbie Hoffman has slightly less profile in this film. William Kunstler (Robert Loggia) is well-played; Leonard Weinglass (Elliott Gould), who is almost invisible in the Netflix production, has a significant profile in this one. The prosecutors, Richard Schultz (David Clennon) and Tom Foran (Harris Yulin), are even less sympathetic in the HBO film. Judge Hoffman (David Opatoshu) plays his biases very well.
In my mind, today's film from 1987 was superior to the 2020 Netflix film. I think some scenes are more memorable, especially the Bobby Seale-Judge Hoffman exchanges. Martin Sheen has a minuscule role as a businessman who witnessed some police bad behavior. Allen Ginsburg (Ron Rifkin) recites some of his poetry and does some om chanting to both the prosecutors and Judge Hoffman's dismay.
It's a good history lesson; I recommend it.
The unique characteristics of the 1987 film were that it takes place solely within the courtroom using language from the trial transcripts. The setting is that the viewer is in the position of a jury member; on numerous occasions, the lawyers speak directly into the camera. In the background on occasion, clips are shown from actual footage taken on the streets of Chicago and inside the convention hall. Bobby Seale (Carl Lumbly) has the highest profile in the film as his demand for recognition of his constitutional rights receives major play. David Dellinger (Peter Boyle) has a much larger role than in the Netflix film, as does Rennie Davis (Robert Carradine). Davis is a much stronger character than portrayed in the Netflix production.
Abbie Hoffman (Michael Lembeck) and Jerry Rubin (Barry Miller) play the Yippie roles well, though Abbie Hoffman has slightly less profile in this film. William Kunstler (Robert Loggia) is well-played; Leonard Weinglass (Elliott Gould), who is almost invisible in the Netflix production, has a significant profile in this one. The prosecutors, Richard Schultz (David Clennon) and Tom Foran (Harris Yulin), are even less sympathetic in the HBO film. Judge Hoffman (David Opatoshu) plays his biases very well.
In my mind, today's film from 1987 was superior to the 2020 Netflix film. I think some scenes are more memorable, especially the Bobby Seale-Judge Hoffman exchanges. Martin Sheen has a minuscule role as a businessman who witnessed some police bad behavior. Allen Ginsburg (Ron Rifkin) recites some of his poetry and does some om chanting to both the prosecutors and Judge Hoffman's dismay.
It's a good history lesson; I recommend it.