Dare Not Walk Alone (2006)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(25 ratings)

In 1964, only a few weeks before the Civil Rights Act became law, marking a crucial victory in the struggle for equal rights, Dr. Martin Luther King and his allies from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference staged a series of protests in St. Augustine, FL, a resort community where racial… More In 1964, only a few weeks before the Civil Rights Act became law, marking a crucial victory in the struggle for equal rights, Dr. Martin Luther King and his allies from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference staged a series of protests in St. Augustine, FL, a resort community where racial segregation was still the order of the day. After several days of protests that often led to violent retaliation against the demonstrators, several SCLC activists arrived at the Monson Motor Lodge; the motel stated that its swimming pool was to be used by whites only, and in defiance several African-Americans dove in. James Brock, owner of the motel, responded by pouring hydrochloric acid into the water in full view of newsreel cameramen. More than four decades later, filmmaker Jeremy Dean traveled to St. Augustine to examine both the shocking events of the past and what the city is like today. In the documentary Dare Not Walk Alone, Dean interviews James Brock as well as other residents about the 1964 protests, and offers a profile of the city that shows how far St. Augustine has come, and how far it still has to go in terms of real racial equality. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Jeremy Dean
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Mar 4, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Nov 11, 2008
Studio: Indican Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Jeremy Dean makes a valiant attempt to juxtapose past and present, but his goal is consistently undermined by an execution so muddled it's almost unwatchable...Even so, the film deserves to be seen, if only for its wealth of rare historical footage.
Andrew Barker, Variety
Dean's ability to explore history through such a local nexus creates a uniquely intimate document.
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
Brock's story and the vivid remembrances of protesters...Clumsier is Dean's attempt to revive calls for social justice regarding today's poverty-stricken West St. Augustine.
Brent Simon, Los Angeles CityBeat
Directed by Jeremy Dean, Dare Not Walk Alone successfully avoids the trappings of many well-meaning civil rights docs that serve chiefly as grief mops for white liberal guilt.
Sara Maria Vizcarrondo, Boxoffice Magazine
It's nothing short of breathtaking to see these demonstrations, and the clear and unmitigated cruelty incurred by these activists, from the points of view of general passersby.
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
Even though this production was completed in 2006, the racial politics of the current presidential election make his film all the more significant.
Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
Inelegantly made and sometimes awkward in its transitions between the two eras, Dean's film nonetheless packs a punch, thanks to vivid archival footage from this lesser-known (compared to Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham) hotbed of Southern racial unrest.