Day In The Death Of Donny B. (1969)

★★★★★ · Finally! · Robot Mike · 2006-04-07

A good anti-drug movie! This has to be one of the most well done shorts on this site. Unlike most films of this genre, "A Day in the Death" manages to avoid the typical cliches. The acting is also surpisingly decent, never becoming exaggerated or melodramatic. Rather than using the usual condemning voice of a narrator, this film uses real commentary from people who have actually seen the effects of drugs first hand. As another plus, the cinematography in this flick is superb. The whole thing is artfully filmed in black and white, and some of the shots are as beautiful as still photography.…

★★★★★ · This short is a small masterpiece · Robert B. Livingston · 2012-07-13

This short made in 1969 is as timely and honest a portrayal of heroin addiction today as when it was made. Story, pictures and sound are powerfully composed.

★★★★★ · Bottle cap livin,bottle cap dead · sodapop · 2005-06-06

This is in my opinion one of the best anti drug films of all times.I own 2 prints of this and regularly screen this.The music is great minamalist folk funk.(This song could be a Jandek song)The main character in this docudrama is I guess supposed to be kind of like Link from Mod Squad.The commentary is real and tends to wallow as this sort of subject matter often does.Mos def a top

★★★★★ · An Important Film · cosmicolada · 2009-10-07

This is a great piece of filmmaking, one of the best shorts to be found on the Archive. Still as vital and valid today as 40 years ago, this is a real must-see.

★★★★ · This is Cinema-Verite! · 2muchtv · 2004-08-02

From a film study perspective, I found this to be a wonderfully enjoyable film. As a C-V fan, I was immediately captivated by the edgy mis en scene and sound track. If you grew up in the 1960s, or want to see what those of us who did were seeing in the media, this is a wonderful example. As a drug prevention film, this movie is a stylistic and interesting failure. It trots out the same trite and tired bromides that are still ineffective today. Most heroin users are not "junkies," and drug abuse is caused by disenfranchisement, not ÃÂdemon dope.ÃÂ Prohibition doesnÃÂt work, and neither do…

★★★★ · Whoa oh Whoa Whoa Oh! · Spuzz · 2005-03-11

Day in The Death of Donny B. does NOT portray a day in the life of a faded New Kids On The Block singer (That would be A Day In The Death of Donnie D) rather, we have Donny B, a strung out black guy on the streets of New York, looking for his next fix. For this, he needs money, prying off hubcaps, begging for money and heck even stealing doesnt bring results. Finally in two strokes of luck, he's able to get the money! I love the way this was shot, great vintage and strange signs of New York are shown, the acting by the lead character is good, and a very hep lead song! Reccomended!