Right On!
Cast & Crew
Herbert Danska
Gylan Kain
David Nelson
Felipe Luciano
Gardenia Carter
Geoffrey King
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
This film documents The Original Last Poets, New York City black poets Gylan Kain and David Nelson and Felipe Luciano, who is also Puerto Rican, as they perform, reciting and singing twenty eight poems of their own composition on a Harlem rooftop. Considered guerilla poets, the men speak passionately and directly to the audience, describing the hardship of living in poverty and extolling the virtues of black culture and the need for change. Often suggesting revolution, the poets employ an evangelical recitation style, with blues and soul rhyme and rhythm, and accompany each other with choreographed movement, bongo drums and flutes to engage their audience. The poems often mock the white establishment and liberalism, as well as political apathy from the black community. Newsreel footage that is intercut between scenes of the poets, features children and young mothers living in poverty, everyday street life in the ghetto and famous black political and cultural figures such as Medgar Evers, James Brown and Malcolm X.
Director
Herbert Danska
Crew
Gene Ballard
Amin Chaudri
Carlos Cuebas
Chris Dalrymple
Herbert Danska
Herbert Danska
Abdul Hakien
Dan Hauer
Gylan Kain
Woodie King Jr.
Richard Leacock
Felipe Luciano
David Nelson
D. A. Pennebaker
Jim Pollard
Reeves
Harold Sorel
Istvan Ventilla
Joe Zysman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to film reviews, Right On! included recitations of the following poems by their respective authors: Gylan Kain's "Little Willie Armstrong Jones," "James Brown," "Shalimar" and "Untogether"; Felipe Luciano's "Jazz," and David Nelson's "Quit Bullshittin'".
"The Last Poets" was a writing and performing group based in Harlem that came out of the African-American civil rights movement and included various and changing members. Within the film, Kain, Nelson and Luciano, who were early members, named themselves "The Original Last Poets." The name, "The Last Poets," was inspired by South African poet Keorapetse William Kgositsile, who believed that he was the last poet before a revolution to help the plight of black men and women, a revolution he assumed would need guns not words to succeed. A Right On! soundtrack album was also released in 1971.
A March 25, 1970 Variety article noted that producers and documentary directors Richard Leacock and D. A. Pennebaker purchased the distribution rights to Right On!. According to a October 28, 1970 Variety article, Leacock and Pennebaker had seen director Henry Danska's short subject films of African-American spoken word performances and suggested that he expand the film's length, supplying Danska with technical equipment and financing to produce the feature-length Right On!. The article also noted that, although the film looked improvised, Kain, Nelson and Luciano carefully staged their performances in a style of spoken word that is similar to modern "rapping."
The film, which was first shown at the Mannheim Film Festival in October 1970, was picked up for distribution by New Line Cinema for release in the U.S. As noted in the Variety review, the picture was shot in 16mm but blown up to 35mm for its theatrical release.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1970
b&w
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1970
