Tongues Untied(1990)
Black Men Loving Black Men
Tongues Untied Synopsis
Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.
Tongues Untied (1990) is a documentary film directed by Marlon Riggs, released on March 16, 1990 with a runtime of 55m. It stars Marlon Riggs, Essex Hemphill, Brian Freeman and Michael Bell. Viewers rate it 6.6 out of 10 across 62 ratings.
- Director:
- Marlon Riggs
- Writers:
- Joseph Beam, Reginald Jackson, Steve Langley
- Producers:
- Marlon Riggs
- Cinematographer:
- Vivian Kleiman
- Composer:
- Steve Langley
- Production:
- Signifyin' Works
- Status:
- Released
Tongues Untied (1990) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Tongues Untied before you stream it.
Tongues Untied Cast & Crew
Main cast
Marlon Riggs
as Self
Essex Hemphill
as Self - Poetry Performance
- Brian Freeman
Brian Freeman
as Self
Michael Bell
as Self
Willi Ninja
as Self
- Kerrigan Black
Kerrigan Black
as Self
Blackberri
as Self
- Djola Bernard Branner
Djola Bernard Branner
as Self
Eddie Murphy
as Self (archive footage)
Key crew
Directed by Marlon Riggs, written by Joseph Beam, Reginald Jackson and Steve Langley, produced by Marlon Riggs.
Explore more Documentary titles
Tongues Untied Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.6/10 from 62 ratings.
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Tongues Untied – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Tongues Untied online?
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Tongues Untied (1990) is available to stream on OVID. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Tongues Untied?
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The main cast of Tongues Untied (1990) includes Marlon Riggs, Essex Hemphill, Brian Freeman, Michael Bell and Willi Ninja. The film was directed by Marlon Riggs. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Tongues Untied released?
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Tongues Untied was released on March 16, 1990 and runs for 55m.
Is Tongues Untied worth watching?
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Tongues Untied (1990) holds an average rating of 6.6 out of 10 from 62 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Tongues Untied?
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Yes. The official Tongues Untied trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.