:Death of a Prophet

{{Infobox television

| image =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| genre = {{Plainlist|

Drama
History

}}

| creator =

| based_on =

| writer = Woodie King Jr.

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Woodie King Jr.

| starring = Morgan Freeman

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer = Max Roach

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor = Charles Sessoms

| cinematography =

| runtime = 60 mins

| company =

| budget =

| network =

| first_aired = {{start date|1981|06|02}}

| last_aired =

}}

Death of a Prophet is a 1981 television film, written and directed by Woodie King Jr., and starring Morgan Freeman as Malcolm X.{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=Malcolm X Scripted TV Series in the Works|date=22 August 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/malcolm-x-scripted-tv-series-works-1031674|access-date=12 January 2018}}{{cite journal|title=Morgan Freeman at 80: Here are his best films|date=31 May 2017|journal=Deutsche Welle|url=http://www.dw.com/en/morgan-freeman-at-80-here-are-his-best-films/a-39063736|access-date=12 January 2018}}

Cast

Reception

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that the film "will stimulate discussion, but it won't shed any light on the [assassination] itself... 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."{{cite news |last1=Norman |first1=Tony |title='Prophet' allegorizes Malcolm X slaying |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64461674/pittsburgh-post-gazette/ |access-date=2 December 2020 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=February 24, 1992}}

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."{{cite book |last1=Maltin |first1=Leonard |title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: The Modern Era |date=2017 |publisher=Plume Books |isbn=9780525536192 |page=337 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EC08DwAAQBAJ |access-date=2 December 2020}}

References

External links

Category:1981 drama films

Category:1981 films

Category:Films about Malcolm X

Category:Films set in the 1960s

Category:American drama television films

Category:1980s English-language films

Category:1980s American films