Underground

1976

Action / Documentary

2
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 89% · 2 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 89% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.0/10 10 179 179

politics political activism

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Plot summary

Underground is a 1976 documentary film about the Weathermen, founded as a militant faction of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), who fought to overthrow the U.S. government during the 1960s and 1970s. The film consists of interviews with members of the group after they went underground and footage of the anti-war and civil rights protests of the time. It was directed by Emile de Antonio, Haskell Wexler and Mary Lampson, later subpoenaed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an attempt to confiscate the film footage in order to gain information that would help them arrest the Weathermen. (Wikipedia)

Director

Haskell Wexler Photo
Haskell Wexler

Top cast

Haskell Wexler Photo
Haskell Wexler as Self
Bill Ayers Photo
Bill Ayers as Self
Emile de Antonio Photo
Emile de Antonio as Self
Kathy Boudin Photo
Kathy Boudin as Self
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
808.54 MB
1280*714
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 28 min
Seeds ...
1.47 GB
1920*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 28 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Blueghost

Interesting documentary on an almost forgotten organization.

When I was a young lad I heard some references to the then infamous "Weather Underground", but never really had a full grasp of who and what they were at the time. As I got older I heard a bit more about the organization, then dutifully filed them under "fringe group" and promptly forgot about them.Then I saw this documentary. Something in the back of my mind said "Huh, this sounds very familiar..." And then the imagery of what I would refer to as long-haird-baby-sitter types, replete with wide brimmed leather caps and so forth, splashed onto the screen with moderately faded and grainy colors that was 1960's news film.And then the documentary unfolded, and the story of the Weather Underground was told. As far as documentaries go it was fairly decent. The film showed the images of what impressed the members of the Weather Underground to wage a campaign of violence. And herein we gain insight to some of their thinking and beliefs, and what ultimately drove them to commit horrible acts of violence against institutions.We the audience are exposed to images showing the acts-of-oppression, and the rhetoric of the Vietnam war that the Weather Underground believed they had to sift through in order to come to their own version of a clear-minded conclusion. It was the Weather Underground's belief that the injustices they perceived boiled down to some basic elements that troubled society as a whole. But herein lies the problem, they themselves aren't able to articulate precisely how their actions will bring about change, nor why they believe people will take up the cause of violence to turn the social power structure on its head.But that's not really a short-coming of the film, so much as it is a short-coming of the Weather Underground themselves. They see a problem, consider all forms of protest, take a more radical and violent avenue as their course of action, but then fail, and, I think, knew they would fail. Or if they didn't, then it shows how short sighted said young revolutionaries were. In this regard the film, unexpectedly, comments on the ability of any social movement to properly digest and weigh data on whatever it is that concerns them. In other words, based on the testimony in the film, it appears the Weather Underground got wrapped up in itself.The film itself could stand to be cleaned up a bit. A new print from the master negative would do much to preserve a slice that reveals some of America's more violent history. The film makes for an interesting one-off viewing, and reminded me of another time. If you're into seeing what some of the 60s and early 70s were about, then give this look.
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Reviewed by frschoonover 8 / 10

As Relevant Today As It Was Back In The Day When Released

The 1976 documentary type film "Underground" was a controversial film back in the day. This documentary film is a reflection of the times when it was made, and also, a reflection of the changing times with the US society at that particular time.

The film was made by the "Weathermen Underground Association" (also simply known as simply "the Weathermen). The association consisted of Bill Ayers, Kathy Boudin, Bernadine Dohrn, Jeff Jones and Cathy Wilkerson.

The film features footage from various sources pieced together by the group. The film was both a reflection of the times, and also, a reflection of the changing times within the US society as a whole. The film features the US people's attitudes towards the Vietnam War in regards to the "Anti-War Movement" and also, the struggles of world communism in Cuba, the now former Soviet Union and China. It also reveals the and also, the historical struggles of the Native American rights movement, the civil rights movement as a whole and last but not least, the labor issues that were a turning point within working class USA. The film showcases footage about these times and also, the hopes for the future for the US society as a whole.

The filmmakers here do a fantastic job in their making of this documentary film. The "Weathermen Underground Association" realistically, and truthfully, point out what was happening within the USA at that time and also, their hopes and plans for the future of the USA. The footage is from many various sources. The group was an offshoot of another group called "Students for a Democratic Society", and it follows the same mission and goal of that particular group.

The film was very controversial back in the day. The FBI learned through the grapevine about the group and their making of this particular documentary film. The FBI, alongside their lawyers, were working to try and stop this particular film from being released. The lawyers even issued subpoenas for the group to prevent the film's release and also, for the group to turn over any footage or documents pertaining to this film. When world got around what the FBI, alongside their lawyers, were doing in regards to the group and their film, many well known and respected actors, such as Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Elia Kazan and Shirley MacLane banded together to fight against them to have the subpoenas reversed and permit the film to be released. Their unity worked in having those said subpoenas reversed and the FBI also backed off.

The FBI accused this particular group of being a communist styled association, when in reality, it was the FBI that was THE communist styled group at that time trying to halt the film's release, alongside their lawyers. This particular group was as much Democratic as the group that they were an offshoot from. They were for both Democracy and the USA way of making sure people knew the real truth about what was going on, and what they can do to make sure that Democracy was still the answer.

This was a very relevant documentary film back in the day. However, the film still remains as relevant today as it was back in the day when it was made and released on the USA public. This film never lost its relavance as today, the times are still changing and also, we are still dealing, and, facing the same issues as we did back in the late 1960's and early 1970's, and onward. Underground still remains relevant no matter what day and age that the US society, and the rest of the world, are living in. It is also an educational experience for the young people of today to also get involved and demand that Democracy, and everything having to do with it, continue to be the answer and that the young people of today to do whatever it takes as the preceding people who lived during those times did. IMHO, the young people of today should watch this film if they ever see it for sale second handed on VHS at any thrift store, or, flea market.

I scored this on VHS as a previously viewed tape for only five dollars at Blockbuster Video. I bought this and watched it right after buying it. I enjoyed watching this film immensey. It is a very realistic account of the times back then, and also, the changing times. Again, this documentary still remains relevant today as it was back in the day when made and released. It should be a part of every USA citizen's library of films, so those who have it can share it with their families and to keep the mission to continue to defend Democracy as societies that are a Democracy work out better than any other form of governing, including, but not limited to, Communism.

Overall, an essential film for diehard USA citizen's and also, for those youngsters of today to be educated by. This film should be in every USA citizen's library.

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