Key release and production facts
King (1977) is a historical television film dramatizing the final years of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the U.S. civil rights movement. Below are the verified core facts most useful for long-term reference.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release (U.S. television) | April 16, 1977 (ABC) | Broadcast history |
| Runtime | Approximately 186 minutes (3 hours 6 minutes), presented in two parts | Program listing |
| Director | John Erman | Credits |
| Writers | David W. Rintels (teleplay), with historical consultation | Credits |
| Lead actor | Paul Winfield as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | Credits |
The film was produced for American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and remains a reference point for televised biographical storytelling about King.
Principal cast
The primary cast reflects a deliberate choice to center King’s leadership and the movement’s human dimension.
- Paul Winfield — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Janet MacLachlan — Coretta Scott King
- Madge Sinclair — Alberta Williams King
- Oscar Brown Jr. — Reverend Ralph Abernathy
- Johnny Sekka — Bayard Rustin
Production context and historical framing
Produced in the late 1970s, King emerged when public television and limited series were expanding serious biographical programming. Director John Erman and writer David W. Rintels focused on narrative clarity and period texture, using a restrained ensemble approach to foreground King’s rhetoric and strategic decisions. The film emphasizes contemporaneous archival tone and measured pacing, aiming for educational use as well as public reflection.
Production design, casting, and consultation with movement scholars were oriented toward verisimilitude within the technical constraints of 1977 broadcast standards.
Contemporary reception and legacy
Upon its 1977 broadcast on ABC, King reached a substantial audience and was generally reviewed as a sober, respectful dramatization. Critics noted both its strengths in period atmosphere and limitations in structural depth, but the film quickly became part of school, library, and community programming on civil rights history.
Its long-term legacy includes continued television rebroadcasts and availability on home video formats, supporting its status as a durable reference work in U.S. history curricula. The combination of strong central performance by Paul Winfield and careful period recreation has sustained its relevance.
Comparative context among televised King biographies
King (1977) is positioned among several notable screen portrayals of Dr. King. The table below compares key attributes relevant to researchers and educators.
| Title | Year | Medium | Key cast | Purpose or framing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King | 1977 | Television film (ABC) | Paul Winfield | Biographical overview of final years and movement context |
| Selma, Lord, Selma | 1999 | Television film (Disney) | Sheila Ward | Child’s perspective on the 1965 voting rights campaign |
| Glory | 1989 | Theatrical feature | Denzel Washington | Civil War regiment story, indirect King context |
| Boycott | 2001 | Television film (ABC) | Jeffrey Wright | Montgomery bus boycott focus, centered on organizing |
Where to verify and access
For ongoing reference, consult catalog records from national libraries, rights-holder announcements, and academic databases that index broadcast materials. These sources support verification of dates, format availability, and rights information without speculative detail.