Although this Film, with its Remarkable Access to Gov. Wallace and the Kennedy White-House is Even-Handed and Fair,
and Plays Out More or Less as it was Happening Around the July 11, 1963 Time-Frame, It Wasn't Staged, it was Shot Cinema Verite Style and Edited After the Fact.
A Few Things are Happening Behind the Scenes that Basically Assured the Kennedy Administration that the Outcome would Not Require the Use of Federal Force.
Taking Wallace at His Word, it is Alleged that Wallace Told the White-House He Would Stand Down After a Show of Principles, but the Federal Govt. Was Still Preparing for Anything to Happen.
It was a Night-Before Commitment that Things would Eventually be for the Good of the Country. (Alabama was the only State that refused integration of Universities).
Wallace Knew in His Heart of Hearts this was a Lost Cause.
On Screen He Says (paraphrasing)...I still believe that the Civil War was a stance of fighting for what you believe in...It was just that there were more of them then there were of us.
The Same Could be Said of His Current Dilemma...He was Fighting for What He Believed. Both Races were Better Off Apart, but the Overwhelming Majority of the States were Allowing Integration and Alabama Stood Alone, Fighting, but Still Alone.
The Outcome was a Done Deal Before it Happened and Wallace Stood in the Doorway to Block the Students (Vivian Malone, James Hood) from Entering.
Once, for Symbolic Reasons and Fulfilling His Promise to the Citizens. But the Second Time the Students Arrived...Wallace Walked Away, and the "Crisis" was Over.
Still, the Film was a Break-Through for Documenting an Important Historical Event with "A Fly On the Wall" Perspective and for that it is Priceless.
Note...President Kennedy was gunned-down in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, a month after the film was released. His brother and Attorney General, Robert, was killed by an assassin, 5 Years later, in June of 1968.
and Plays Out More or Less as it was Happening Around the July 11, 1963 Time-Frame, It Wasn't Staged, it was Shot Cinema Verite Style and Edited After the Fact.
A Few Things are Happening Behind the Scenes that Basically Assured the Kennedy Administration that the Outcome would Not Require the Use of Federal Force.
Taking Wallace at His Word, it is Alleged that Wallace Told the White-House He Would Stand Down After a Show of Principles, but the Federal Govt. Was Still Preparing for Anything to Happen.
It was a Night-Before Commitment that Things would Eventually be for the Good of the Country. (Alabama was the only State that refused integration of Universities).
Wallace Knew in His Heart of Hearts this was a Lost Cause.
On Screen He Says (paraphrasing)...I still believe that the Civil War was a stance of fighting for what you believe in...It was just that there were more of them then there were of us.
The Same Could be Said of His Current Dilemma...He was Fighting for What He Believed. Both Races were Better Off Apart, but the Overwhelming Majority of the States were Allowing Integration and Alabama Stood Alone, Fighting, but Still Alone.
The Outcome was a Done Deal Before it Happened and Wallace Stood in the Doorway to Block the Students (Vivian Malone, James Hood) from Entering.
Once, for Symbolic Reasons and Fulfilling His Promise to the Citizens. But the Second Time the Students Arrived...Wallace Walked Away, and the "Crisis" was Over.
Still, the Film was a Break-Through for Documenting an Important Historical Event with "A Fly On the Wall" Perspective and for that it is Priceless.
Note...President Kennedy was gunned-down in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, a month after the film was released. His brother and Attorney General, Robert, was killed by an assassin, 5 Years later, in June of 1968.