Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
September 5 takes us behind the scenes of ABC's coverage of the 1972 Summer Olympics massacre in Munich (2024; Rated R; Directed By Tim Fehlbaum; Streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+). My word for this movie is edgy.
The 1972 Summer Olympics were the first to be broadcast live. I was in junior high. September 5 was a Tuesday so I must have been in school, yet I remember being glued to Jim McKay's coverage of the terrorist attack by Black September. The coverage lasted 22 hours so I'm sure I watched as much as possible outside of school hours. My 13-year-old self didn't really comprehend what was going on, but I knew it was bad, and I knew some Israeli athletes had been killed and others taken hostage.
I also didn't know it was unusual for the coverage to be handled by the sports department, but September 5, a docudrama, shows us President of ABC Sports Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard - an actor I like a lot) fighting to keep this powerful story away from the news division. With the organizational skills of Geoffrey Mason (John Magaro), the head of the control room, who quickly manages the change in focus, and German interpreter Marianne Gebhardt (Leonie Benesch), who can tell them what's coming over the police radio, the sports department broadcasts the first ever live terrorist attack on television, watched by 900 million people.
The movie is fast paced and the archival footage of Jim McKay's coverage is skillfully woven in between the actions of the actors. I knew what was going to happen, yet I felt the tension as strongly as I did when I was 13 years old.
I strongly recommend this movie.
Happy viewing!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Sounds like a movie I would like to see.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it didn't receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Its only nomination was for Best Original Screenplay, which went to Anora. I haven't seen Anora.
DeleteI never watched this at the time, but I remember hearing about it. Never have been one to watch the Olympics, I guess. Don't generally ever watch sports. The only things I ever did watch a couple of times were gymnastics and ice skating, I think. This would all be pretty new to me. Sounds interesting--and I like all the Sarsgaards!! :)
ReplyDeleteI used to watch parts of the Olympics. In 1972, Mark Spitz won his 7 gold medals for swimming and Olga Korbut was a gymnastics sensation. I don't remember how Jim McKay's coverage of the attack caught my eye, but I was definitely following it even though I didn't know what Black September was. I don't remember talking about it at school. If I had mentioned it, other kids would have said, Whut?
DeleteI, too, like Sarsgaard, so I'm going to look for this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip!
xoxo
You're welcome. I first noticed him when he was in An Education with Carey Mulligan. I love Mulligan, too. He made such a charming villain, leading her down the primrose path.
DeleteI remember this so well, it was so shocking. I was 15 when it happened.
ReplyDeleteSome news events take up space in one's head and can never be forgotten. I've seen the footage many time of Jim McKay saying, They're all gone.
DeleteThis is Birgit…I watched this film and found it compelling and edge of your seat film. I had no idea how difficult it was for them to get this on the air. I knew the outcome and was wondering how it would be dealt with. I was 8 years old and remember vividly when the man came out on the balcony. I thought he was pure evil and knew the hostages would die. I still get all angst just thinking about that moment. I think it told my parents that he was evil. I remember when Jim McCay stated, “They’re all gone.” He was heroic to me and I watched the Olympics as long as he was the anchor. It’s a solid 4 out of 5 for me.
ReplyDeleteYou understood more at 8 than I did at 13, Birgit. I'll also never forget Jim McKay saying "they're all gone." I've seen that moment of footage many times. I also remember McKay saying in an interview that when it was over and he was finally off the air, he realized he was still wearing his damp swim trunks under his suit. They had gotten him from the pool to take over the broadcast. He did an amazing job.
DeleteGood to know. It sounds very interesting. I don't remember the original events (I was five) but I've seen films like "Munich" since and it was such a horrible and tragic episode.
ReplyDeleteI saw Munich, too, and I've read some about what happened that awful day. September 5 is very interesting.
DeleteThanks for the movie review. Where is it streaming?
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. It's streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+.
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