The People Speak is a 2009 American documentaryfeature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans. The film gives voice to those who, by insisting on equality and justice, spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history and also illustrates the relevance of this to today's society. The film is narrated by historian Howard Zinn and is based on his books A People's History of the United States and, with Anthony Arnove, Voices of a People's History of the United States. The People Speak is produced by Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Chris Moore, Anthony Arnove, and Howard Zinn. It is co-directed by Moore, Arnove and Zinn.
The film was well received by the critics. The Los Angeles Times described it as "Striking, exhilarating... the performances are thrilling". According to the Boston Globe, "The documentary... works beautifully... Each passionate reading flows out of the previous one." USA Today reported Damon as saying: "This is the perfect format for a history lesson. You’re getting the actual historical text verbatim, so there’s no spin, performed by these great actors. History is intimidating. There’s so much to know. If I could go back to college again, I would be a history major." According to the newspaper, Springsteen taped at his ranch in New Jersey while Brolin was at work and Brolin said: "They ended up spending five or six hours. And I got this little card from Bruce Springsteen that said: ‘Josh, thank you so much for making my childhood dream come true. I had the greatest day of my life.’"
Soundtrack
The People Speak soundtrack on Verve Records features Bruce Springsteen, who performs with just a guitar and harmonica in his New Jersey home recording studio, and John Legend who sings solo backed by a piano at a Boston theatre, as well as others at the Malibu Performing Arts Center, where they perform both vintage and recent protest-music classics. Springsteen reprises the John Steinbeck/Woody Guthrie-inspired "The Ghost of Tom Joad" from his 1995 album of the same name; Dylan sings Guthrie's "Do Re Mi"; and two early Dylan songs "Masters Of War" and "Only A Pawn In Their Game" are performed by Eddie Vedder and Rich Robinson, respectively. One of the best-known songs of the Great Depression, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", is sung by Moorer; Newman is at his piano for "Sail Away", the title track from his 1972 album; Legend performs Marvin Gaye's 1970s anthem "What's Going On"; Mahal plays "Blues With A Feeling"; and Cervenka and Doe revive X's roots rocker "See How We Are" from 1987. More recent protest songs are Fiasco's "American Terrorist", first heard on his 2006 debut album; Pink's "Dear Mr. President," heard on her album of that same year; and Browne's "The Drums Of War", which debuted on his 2008 album Time the Conqueror. The soundtrack, on Verve Records, features new songs by Allison Moorer, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Exene Cervenka, Jackson Browne, John Doe, John Legend, Lupe Fiasco, P!nk, Randy Newman, Rich Robinson, and Taj Mahal.
''The People Speak'' – International
''The People Speak'' UK
'' developed the British version of the film together with History UK and the film’s US producers Anthony Arnove and Chris Moore. Like the original, the UK version draws on writings that have influenced British history and it includes performances by British screen and stage actors. These include Ian McKellen, Joss Stone, Saffron Burrows, Mark Strong, Celia Imrie, Noel Clarke, Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Steel, Stephen Rea and others. The documentary aired on History UK on October 31, 2010.
