PEOPLE'S TEMPLE PART 1

This was the first documentary ever produced on the Rev Jim Jones and his followers, a full seven years before the Jonestown massacre. David Gottlieb and James Ruxin, who made the film, were graduate students at the USC School of Cinema.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• PEOPLE'S TEMPLE PART 1
• Jim Jones
• Jonestown
• religion
• cults

[davgot47]

You are so right--up to a point medical science had no idea how destructive methamphetamines are to physical and mental health. These drugs were literally developed by the Nazis before WWII. I believe they played s role in Jones' insanity.

[davgot47]

I am a major opponent of animal abuse. But I don't know if you're reading a little too much into Jones' statement. Who knows? Maybe he meant he'd slap the monkey's wrist or something. For the most part I didn't see all these animals heading for the hills on sight of Jones.

[davgot47]

You, know I also like walking on my roof, but I don't have a parrot. Also my roof is Spanish tile so I have to be extremely careful walking on it, hmmmmm.....

[davgot47]

I think all demagogues have sick dark sides to them but can also have an apparent love , concerned side. Yeah Jim had both. But there was this whole paranoia about government, etc. that was out to get him (in his mind). So who knows? I was intrigued with him but not convinced. There was a really yucky impulse telling me that he was just plain weird and manipulative, but there was still something good there, or no?

[davgot47]

I am curious who made a comparison between Larry Schacht and Dr. Mengele? Some comparisons get pretty absurd. Yes I think there was, what some people consider mind control, at play. Yes Jones and his lieutenants had pre-planned mass suicide scenarios in Jonestown, even rehearsed them with the followers. But part of the moral is to be on alert for people who will manipulate and deceive others. Some religions and cults are manipulative. Be on the look out. Don't be vulnerable. Protect your life..

[davgot47]

It's kind of sad in light of what was to tragically unfold later...

[bigpecker251]

@davgot47 The Japanese were the original METH COOKS.

[TheSwavi]

Retards

[mrfilmnoir68]

I think that what people are missing here is the methamphetamine use that Jones engaged in. I think that is what drove an already mentally sick man over the edge.

[Mobee211]

@davgot47 No. Jones claimed to be for equality...but he had only white members in his higher cabinet. The black folks worked in the fields and ate rice and gruel. He preyed upon the sick, the poor, the mentally handicapped etc. He wanted to go down in history...he claimed he was GOD. He was actually happy Ryan came, I think, because it gave him the excuse he needed to massacre all his followers. He also routinely raped women and men...abused children etc. He was evil

[SMG6771]

David, Thank you so much for making these clips available. I love the Variety article (on your Website) that says you "prepared a 20-minute film on the People's Temple . . and couldn't get a bid on it from anyone". Now EVERY documentary about Jim Jones includes this footage. I like the style of these films (NBC doc) because the images and people tell the story with minimal or no narration. Thanks again.

[RatchetSouth]

r.i.p. christine miller

[67nairb]

@MrRedFredSaid Poor misguided folks.

[67nairb]

What year is from.

[ral1334]

@bellagarm I definitely wouldn't put it past Jim Jones to spank his monkey.