John Cassellis is the toughest TV news reporter around. After extensively reporting about violence and racial tensions in poor communities, he discovers that his network is helping the FBI by granting them access to his footage to find suspects.
Direction
Wexler merged actors with actual 1968 DNC protests. Real tear gas, real chaos.
Cinematography
The man invented the look of handheld political truth. Grainy, urgent, unforgettable.
Writing
Dialogue so natural you'll check if it's scripted or documentary.
Director
Haskell Wexler
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The famous line 'Look out, Haskell, it's real!' was unscripted—soundman warned Wexler that police were actually firing tear gas at them.
Wexler was fired from his next studio gig for this; Hollywood wasn't ready for a film that implicated media in state violence during an election year.
US
