Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis is a monumental documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King’s speeches, protests, and arrests are interspersed with scenes of other high-profile supporters and opponents of the cause, punctuated by heartfelt testimonials by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Selected to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1999, King is a cinematic national treasure that allows viewers to be first-hand witnesses to Dr. King’s crusade, and thereby gain a fuller appreciation of both the personal challenges he endured and the vast cultural legacy he left behind.

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[youtube https://youtu.be/aPEnqs3FnYU?si=7WqwjTokDBDvQAkn&t=3893]

Video Quality

The Blu-Ray of King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis is delivered from an unknown source provided by the Library of Congress that handles this material with the respect it deserves. This is a deftly realized transfer that eliminates any major blemishes while still working within the limitations of the source. This footage was captured over 50 years ago, and not all filming conditions were conducive to a stable experience. The image quality can appear quite different from scene to scene. When you consider the age of the film and the condition of the source material, it is pleasing to see most of it looking so strong.

The transfer maintains the gorgeous natural film grain throughout with nothing looking unnatural and no major instances of spiking or swarming. Even though this is a massive film, there does not appear to be any issues with compression artifacts or any other such digital anomalies. There are a few scenes where the source is a bit weak, but that is not an issue with the encoding. At its most accomplished, you do see some fine detail in the clothing of the subjects and in some of the background elements. The black-and-white photography provides a welcome stability within the contrast. This presentation does an impressive job of giving life to this moment in history.

Audio Quality

The new Blu-Ray is presented with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track with optional English SDH subtitles. As with the video, this track captures the material as well as the source will allow. Instead of interviews as the primary focus of this feature, we are treated to numerous speeches and interactions from the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the information is a bit creaky due to some of the limitations of the filming process and environment. There are a couple of moments where there is a fluctuation in the audio that seems to stem from damage to the source material, but these are sporadic at worst and not an overwhelming issue. Considering the limitations in place, the results are a major win for history.

Special Features

Trailer: This disc provides Trailer #1 (1:36) and Trailer #2 (1:06)

Final Thoughts

King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis is a massive documentary that explores the life of one of the greatest men of the civil rights movement. Not only do you get most of the iconic speeches, but you also are given effective interpersonal moments that show his vulnerability. Even with its length, this particular documentary keeps you transfixed until the end without leaving you to look at your watch. This is an essential piece of filmmaking history that should be praised. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray featuring a robust A/V presentation and almost no special features. If you are a documentary fan or interested in experiencing more raw accounts from the civil rights frontline, this one should not be missed. Highly Recommended

King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.