The Emory Cinematheque Presents: MALCOLM X (1992)

Directed by Spike Lee
1992 | 202 min. | DCP
Introduced by Dr. Charlene Regester (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)
Spike Lee’s MALCOLM X comes out in 1992 with Warner Bros. The film is based on the 1964 book, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X as told to Alex Haley, which was published one year before Malcolm X’s assassination. In the film, audiences see Malcolm X through various points of his varied, short life: as Malcolm Little, Malcolm X, and El- Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
Getting the film to screen was no small feat since others had tried as well, having several different screenwriters over time. Film scholar Anna Everett writes about Lee’s negotiations with the work: “For Lee, courting controversy over MALCOLM X was a necessary act of political and cultural intervention that turned on matters of credibility, authenticity, and even profitability.”
In an interview, Lee talks about the importance of Malcolm X and the need for everyone to see this biopic about him. He believed MALCOLM X, his first PG film, could serve as an “important piece of American history and people, especially young kids, need to see this.” (Cineaste, 1993). So much so, Lee called for districts to release children from school to go see the film. Educator Samuel L. Banks writes in the AFRO-AMERICAN RED STAR, the film “must portray Malcolm X as BECOMING, ASSIDUOUSLY BECOMING AND GROWING, if it is to have genuine validity, credibility and enduring appeal.”
Coming in just shy of 3 1/2 hours, Lee interprets Malcolm X’s motivations as grounded in his background, transitions, and his faith. Denzel Washington was nominated for an Oscar in his portrayal of Malcolm X. Alongside him, the film stars Angela Bassett, Al Freeman, Jr., Delroy Lindo, and Lee himself. Film historian Dr. Charlene Regester of the University of North Carolina will introduce the film and entertain questions afterwards.