And the Band Played On (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers (WGA):

Randy Shilts (book)
Arnold Schulman (teleplay)

Release Date:

11 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A threat no one dared face. A word no one wanted to speak. A fight for many, fought by few.

Plot:

The story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Virus | Epidemic | Gay | Political

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Dr. Don Francis
Alan Alda	...	Dr. Robert Gallo
Patrick Bauchau	...	Dr. Luc Montagnier
Nathalie Baye	...	Dr. Françoise Barre
Christian Clemenson	...	Dr. Dale Lawrence
David Clennon	...	Mr. Johnstone
Phil Collins	...	Eddie Papasano
Bud Cort	...	Antique shop owner
Alex Courtney	...	Dr. Mika Popovic
David Dukes	...	Dr. Mervyn Silverman
Richard Gere	...	The Choreographer
David Marshall Grant	...	Dennis Seeley
Ronald Guttman	...	Dr. Jean-Claude Chermann
Glenne Headly	...	Dr. Mary Guinan
Anjelica Huston	...	Dr. Betsy Reisz

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | France:U | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Produced despite heavy misgivings in the film industry. When film star Richard Gere accepted a small role, he broke the taboos--at grave risk to his career--about both the subject and major film stars taking small parts in TV productions. Subsequently Steve Martin, Alan Alda, Phil Collins and Anjelica Huston were willing to appear.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: This movie is set early 1980s, but there is a box of Wheatables from the early 1990s on the coffee table.

Quotes:

Dr. Mary Guinan: How long has it been.
Dr. Don Francis: Small pox, India.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Chicago Hope: ...And the Hand Played On (#4.5)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Play the Game

If this film doesn't touch you, you have no heart

HBO was beginning to choose projects other networks were afraid to touch. And the Band Played On is one of their all time top ten. The actors who participated in this film were only paid scale, and not a lot of money was used, but the message is the strongest. I viewed this on its premiere and couldn't sleep afterward. I view it more these days since I've had many friends die of "red tape" of AIDS.

According to this film based in Randy's book, what bothers me the most was the opportunities that existed by several people to catch this disease at various stages and it just wasn't done. Sure the government played its part, but so did commerce, so did vanity and so did the need for humans to be sexual beings.

Since the film I've read about the deaths of many as well as experienced deaths myself. One thing that stands out is "Patient Zero". The family of this gentleman has fought long and hard for that stigma to be erased. As the character says in the film: "If I got it, then someone gave it to me". I do understand terms that mark things as "the beginning" of the identified problem but with this film you will know there was a beginning BEFORE THAT beginning. Where it lies is still a mystery.

On the other hand if America could have shared information with other countries and paid closer attention we could have fought this is a world problem before it got to the point of where it did. But America was too busy allocating more money to military defense than to the medical defense.

America had discoverable AIDS cases as far back as the 1950's, but it didn't reach total epidemic status until the late 1970's early 1980's. This film brings that information out. It also brings out the information that this disease, although concentrated in the gay community, had no specific target, anyone could/would get it. The people in my life were not all homosexual who contracted the disease but a few were just receivers of blood transfusions. At the time they received the blood, the test was not developed for screening. Just like the film points out, they too (family, friends, associates) suffered.

There is so much to grab in this film, one or two viewings isn't enough. One or two pointed fingers is not the answer. It is equally as sad that almost 10 years later, I am writing this review and the band is still playing. It was my prayer that this would not be so.