Unedited version of "This Honorable Court". Regards the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. Originally shot on film. Some archival footage in B&W, duly noted in segments.
Unidentified white of man (historian?) seated in a conference room; after 1937, the Supreme Court didn't strike down a single New Deal law.
DO NOT USE Archival B&W stills of slums of in Washington, DC., Capitol Building in close proximity; still of D.C. street, black woman walking, two small black children playing; still of black farm workers picking lettuce. VO says period after New Deal, civil rights & civil liberties become a court priority; still of Jim Crow sign for "COLORED WAITING ROOM"; still of mixed race crowd on Southern street with Jim Crow signs overhead; still of young black man standing next to bus under sign for "colored". Archival B&W still of young THURGOOD MARSHALL, wearing vest and tie, moustache, sitting at typewriter.
Justice THURGOOD MARSHALL, seated in chambers in Supreme Court building, discussing objectives of civil rights lawyers.
DO NOT USE Archival B&W stills of young Mr. Marshall meeting with other lawyers.
MS Thurgood Marshall saying first successes were in courts, white judges grudgingly acknowledged the law.
Archival B&W EST shot of the Supreme Court building, steps, columns, 1952; MS/CUs of THURGOOD MARSHALL with team of NAACP lawyers outside Court building, speaking to a camera, explains mission of lawyers; MSs of lawyers and young black high school students walking through hall of Supreme Court. Brown vs Board of Education.
COLOR MCU of Judge Abner Mikvah (sp), a Supreme Court clerk at time of BROWN vs. BOARD OF EDUCATION case, discussing the progress of the case, Justice Felix Frankfurter's decision to delay case until after elections.
DO NOT USE Archival still of FELIX FRANKFURTER in law library, holding open book. Archival B&W still of Chief Justice FRED VINSON; VO says Mr. Vincent's death in 1953 brought appointment of Earl Warren as Chief; still of EARL WARREN with DWIGHT EISENHOWER; VO says 9-0 decision under Warenn that "separate" is inherently unequal; shot of New York Times front page with headline of BROWN decision.
Archival B&W footage of Little Rock, Arkansas: MS backside of Southern police officer, pistol in belt, twirling nightstick; TLS cops trying to detain a white high school girl on a school lawn, girl breaks free and runs; MSs cops tackling a man in the street, two COPS dragging a woman away from scene; TLS line of National Guard in front of Little Rock Central High School.
COLOR CU of NYU law professor explaining the history of litigation prior to Brown decision.
Archival B&W footage of civil rights movement: MS of white cop and waiter confronting pair of black patrons in a segregated diner; MS of Cop talking to three women lunch counter workers; MSs of young black men and women being dragged away by police officers from sit-ins and civil rights demonstrations; TLS crowd in civil rights march, banner being held that reads, "We March with Selma"; MS of black and white marchers holding "WE SHALL OVERCOME" sign.
COLOR shot of Judge Mikvah (?) discussing the Court's response to sit-ins, discussion of Court's addressing state legislative practices.
Good archival B&W LS of 1950's cars driving on a freeway toward a city; TLS of a rural shack; TLS of taxis and cars on downtown Los Angeles street; MSs of voters at polling station; MS old black woman exiting voting booth, younger black woman enters.; VO mentions electoral disadvantages of black and urban voters under old districts; CU ballots being placed in box; MS of Chief Justice EARL WARREN and President DWIGHT EISENHOWER; MSs of Mr. Warren walking with wife and daughter.