''Death of a Prophet'' is a 1981 television film, written and directed by Woodie King Jr., and starring

Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, and narrator. He is known for his distinctive deep voice and various roles in a wide variety of film genres. Throughout his career spanning over five decades, he has received ...

as Malcolm X.

Cast

as Malcolm X * Yolanda King as Betty Shabazz * Ossie Davis as himself * Yuri Kochiyama as herself *

Amiri Baraka Amiri Baraka (born Everett Leroy Jones; October 7, 1934 – January 9, 2014), previously known as LeRoi Jones and Imamu Amear Baraka, was an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. He was the author of numerous bo ...

as himself

Reception

The '' Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' said that the film "will stimulate discussion, but it won't shed any light on the ssassinationitself... To say ''Death of a Prophet'' takes liberties with the facts is an understatement, but the degree to which it does can be a bit irritating at times... Still, the film manages to capture an essential truth — Malcolm X was perceived in some circles and our government as a dangerous man because of his eloquence, self-discipline and unswerving dedication to black liberation." '' Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'' called the film a "low-budget but involving drama (with some documentary scenes) about the last day in the life of a black American leader. He's clearly supposed to be Malcolm X, though that name is not mentioned. Freeman is excellent, and the film's documentary style is effective."

References

External links

1981 drama films 1981 films Films about Malcolm X Films set in the 1960s American drama television films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films {{US-tv-drama-film-stub