The Activist (1969 film)
1969 film / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Activist is a 1969 American drama film directed by Art Napoleon and written by Art Napoleon and Jo Napoleon. It depicts the conflicts of a college student who, after appearing on television news decrying the Vietnam War, is torn between engaging in further anti-war protests and settling for conventional happiness with his new girlfriend. The film stars Michael Smith, who had been an actual member of the Oakland Seven, an anti-war group involved in the planning of the 1967 Stop the Draft Week. Co-star Lesley Taplin also alternated between community activism and acting at the time of production.
The Activist | |
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Directed by | Art Napoleon |
Written by | Art Napoleon Jo Napoleon |
Produced by | Art Napoleon Jo Napoleon |
Starring | Michael Smith Lesley Taplin Tom Maier Brian Murphy |
Edited by | Michael Kahn Gilbert D. Marchant |
Production company | Jana Films |
Distributed by | Universal (as Regional Film Distributors) |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Also starring in the film are Tom Maier and Brian Murphy. Also, the parents of filmmaker Michael Ritchie, Benbow Ritchie and Patricia Ritchie, briefly appear as a suburban couple upset by the lead character when he appears in their neighborhood.
The film received an X rating due to a graphic (for the time) love scene between Smith and Taplin. It was released on December 10, 1969, by Universal Pictures' shadow company Regional Film Distributors, a division created to handle films either receiving an X rating or deemed to esoteric for the studio to be associated with.[1][2][3]