Most Dangerous Man In America – Official Film Site

I’ve had more than a passing interest in the splash arrival this month of Steven Spielberg’s movie The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, which covers the Washington Post‘s role, in 1971, in publishing the so-called “Pentagon Papers,” a top-secret government study of United States involvement in the then-still-raging Vietnam War.

Judith Ehrlich and I spent four years creating the on-screen story of the man who leaked that Pentagon study to the press, in our 2009 documentary, The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. So I’ve been waiting with bated breath to see what this stellar Hollywood team would do with similar events.

— Read the full article on Documentary.org the site of the International Documentary Association —

MSNBC will rebroadccast The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Sunday, January 7 from 9-11 PM EST (6-8 PM PST). MSNBC first broadcast the film on December 23.

The film is also available to watch online or on DVD at www.mostdangerousman.org

With only a brief segment in Spielberg’s “The Post” film featuring Ellsberg, the Oscar-nominated Most Dangerous Man in America fills in the full true story of former defense analyst Daniel Ellsberg’s release of the top-secret Pentagon Papers. Ellsberg’s daring act of conscience revealed decades of government lies about the Vietnam War, leading directly to Watergate, President Nixon’s resignation, and a swifter end to the war – as well as a landmark Supreme Court decision expanding press freedom.

Ellsberg was inspired to risk possible life in prison for his actions by the example of draft resisters willing to face federal prison rather than fight in an unjust war.

Most Dangerous Man in America was directed by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith.

(Daniel Ellsberg interviewed on MSNBC prior to the December 23 broadcast)

The Oscar-nominated film The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers is now available to watch online streaming or download in the player below.

This version is licensed for personal, home use only and may not be used in educational settings or for public screenings.  DVDs for both educational or home use area available to purchase here.  The film also available for streaming to educational institutions through New Day Films.

Steven Spielberg’s much-heralded new film “The Post”, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, tells the story of the Washington Post’s groundbreaking legal struggles to publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971. The film is very timely considering President Trump’s attacks on the press.

The Post opens with several scenes featuring Daniel Ellsberg, played by Matthew Rhys. While the scenes are accurate of Ellsberg on a plane with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, copying the Pentagon Papers, and later handing them off to Ben Bagdikian, they are very compressed history and only skim over Ellsberg’s story.

The Most Dangerous Man in America film presents the full story about Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, and is must-viewing for anyone who sees The Post film. The film includes the actual footage of Ellsberg and McNamara.

One review of  The Post film praised Most Dangerous Man as “a much more insightful production… which honors the central figure of the controversy with intelligence and dignity.”

The Most Dangerous Man in America is now available to stream online, download or purchase on DVD for home or educational use.

See all options here, or watch below on Vimeo.