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Point of Order

Play trailer Poster for Point of Order 1964 1h 37m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Leftist filmmaker Emile de Antonio compiled this documentary out of 187 hours' worth of kinescopes recorded during the 1954 Senate Army-McCarthy Hearings. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, previously an obscure lawmaker of little importance, had risen to public notice due to his unfounded charges of Communist influence in all levels of government, including the United States Army. Presented without narration, the film shows both McCarthy and his claims crumbling under scrutiny.

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Point of Order

Critics Reviews

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Vincent Canby Variety Mar 18, 2024
In a film of its kind, it's difficult to to know where the praise should go, but certainly, in addition to de Antonio and Talbot, to editor Robert Duncan and editorial consultants David Bazelon and Richard: Rovere. Go to Full Review
Paul Taylor Time Out Jun 24, 2006
de Antonio's debut feature is perhaps the purest expression of his analytical approach to documentary and the 'media-event'. Go to Full Review
TIME Staff TIME Magazine Jan 14, 2006
The Army-McCarthy hearings were superb political theater. In this fascinating film, a 97-minute précis of what television audiences saw at the time, the theater is heightened by intelligent and impartial editing. Go to Full Review
Judith Crist New York Herald Tribune Mar 18, 2024
Point of Order! is not only a testament to the ultimate -- albeit belated -- triumph of democratic decency over demagoguery -- but also a grim reminder of what had happened here. Go to Full Review
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Oct 21, 2019
The editing is adroit and impartial and the results are hypnotically absorbing. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jul 11, 2012 A fascinating look into McCarthy's power. See more
Mar 2, 2012 klassic poly doc-not me cup..... See more
Jul 18, 2010 How do you show exactly how cruel and self serving Joseph McCarthy was as a Senator? In his own words and without commentary. 50 years later and it still sickens me. See more
May 20, 2010 Duplicate entry in Flixster database. Same film as "Point of Order" Flixster database # 770934156. There's 17 reviews for this film over there. I reported the incorrect info. Someone punched off all the backlog one morning (to get rid of it without doing the work). So I got an email back saying it was fixed. But as you can see for yourself, they're both still here. . See more
Jan 20, 2008 I know I am supposed to think Salesman is the best documentary of the 1960s, but this one is so so so incredible. The McCarthy meltdown is beyond belief. See more
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Point of Order

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Cast & Crew

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Emile de Antonio

Director

Roy M. Cohn

Himself (archive footage)

Joseph McCarthy

Himself (archive footage)

Joseph N. Welch

Himself (archive footage)

Emile de Antonio

Writer

Robert Duncan

Writer

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Point of Order

Point of Order (1963) Point of Order (1963) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Leftist filmmaker Emile de Antonio compiled this documentary out of 187 hours' worth of kinescopes recorded during the 1954 Senate Army-McCarthy Hearings. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, previously an obscure lawmaker of little importance, had risen to public notice due to his unfounded charges of Communist influence in all levels of government, including the United States Army. Presented without narration, the film shows both McCarthy and his claims crumbling under scrutiny.
Director
Emile de Antonio
Producer
Daniel Talbot, Emile de Antonio
Screenwriter
Emile de Antonio, Robert Duncan
Distributor
Continental Distributing Inc.
Production Co
Point Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 14, 1964, Limited
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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