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Deep Dive: 1964 (2014)

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1964
1964 is a documentary film that examines the pivotal events in the United States during the year 1964, a significant year following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The film is based partly on Jon Margolis' book, The Last Innocent Year: America in 1964, and portrays the political, social, and cultural shifts occurring in the country. It covers key events such as the British Invasion led by the Beatles, the fight between Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston for the World Heavyweight Championship, and the publication of influential books like Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique and Phyllis Schlafly's A Choice, Not an Echo. The documentary also shows the civil rights movement through initiatives like Freedom Summer, which aimed to register African-Americans in Mississippi, and the tragic murders of activists Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner. The film discusses the political landscape of the time, including the presidential election with Lyndon B. Johnson as the Democratic nominee and Barry Goldwater as the Republican nominee, setting the stage for future political divisions in the United States. Interviews conducted in 2014 provide contemporary perspectives on these historical events.

Why Watch

  • •Meet key figures like Phyllis Schlafly and Cassius Clay.
  • •Follow the civil rights movement's impact in Mississippi.
  • •See how 1964 shaped modern American politics.

Did You Know

•The Beatles led the British Invasion in 1964.
•Three CORE activists were murdered in Mississippi in 1964.
•Lyndon B. Johnson was the expected Democratic nominee in 1964.
•Phyllis Schlafly published A Choice, Not an Echo in 1964.

Perfect For

1960s American historyCivil rights movementPolitical campaigns