Highlights

Best of Enemies (2015)

#13,52110,969
Movie"Buckley vs. Vidal. 2 Men. 10 Debates. Television Would Never Be the Same."
Audience Score
72
Best of EnemiesHBO Max logoWatch on HBO Max
NR 1 hr 27 minJul 31st, 2015History, Documentary
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A documentary about the legendary series of nationally televised debates in 1968 between two great public intellectuals, the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr. Intended as commentary on the issues of their day, these vitriolic and explosive encounters came to define the modern era of public discourse in the media, marking the big bang moment of our contemporary media landscape when spectacle trumped content and argument replaced substance. Best of Enemies delves into the entangled biographies of these two great thinkers, and luxuriates in the language and the theater of their debates, begging the question, "What has television done to the way we discuss politics in our democracy today?"
StarringGore VidalWilliam F. Buckley Jr.Kelsey Grammer
DirectorsMorgan NevilleRobert Gordon
WritersMorgan NevilleRobert Gordon

Movie Details

Theatrical Release:July 31st, 2015
On DVD & Blu-ray:November 3rd, 2015 - Buy DVD
Movie Budget:$1,000,000
Original Language:English
Executive Producers:Julie Goldman
Production Companies:Tremolo Productions, Media Ranch, Motto Pictures, Magnolia Pictures, Participant, ITVS, JustFilms / Ford Foundation
Best of Enemies on the Web:Official Website
Movie Tags:
politics1960sarchive footagechicago, illinoisauthormiami, floridadebateintellectualtelevision network