Every 89 seconds, an unborn child is killed in the womb in the United States, adding to the rising death toll of more than 60 million preborn lives claimed under the guise of reproductive healthcare. Now, finally, after 48 years, the untold story of the infamous 1973 Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion and changed American history, is coming to the big screen.
On Friday, February 26, 2021, at a red-carpet event at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, filmmakers Cathy Allen (The Experiment) and Nick Loeb (Primary Colors), joined by executive producers Dr. Alveda King and Troy Duhon, will premiere the movie Roe v. Wade, winner of three New York International Film Awards.
On April 2, the film will be widely released on Amazon Prime and iTunes.
Based on the trailer, this high-impact, high-action, historically based, emotionally gut-wrenching drama seeks to educate audiences about the real story behind the High Court’s monumental decision.
The film features an all-star cast comprised of “both pro-lifers and pro-choicers,” explained Allen in a recent phone interview with The New American. Oscar Award winner Jon Voight (Coming Home; Midnight Cowboy) plays Justice Warren Burger, alongside newcomer Greer Grammar in the role of Jane Roe’s attorney Sarah Weddington. Jarrett Ellis Beal, a descendent of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., plays Thurgood Marshall, the first black Justice in history.
The story centers on abortionist Bernard Nathanson (Nick Loeb) and pro-life advocate Dr. Mildred Jefferson (Stacey Dash), the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School. According to a press release, “the two square off in a national battle in this untold conspiracy that led to the most famous and controversial court case in history.”
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An opening scene traces the life of Margaret Sanger (1879–1966), founder of Planned Parenthood, who famously launched “The Negro Project” with the intent to weaken the African American population by legalizing abortions. Joining Sanger’s cause is Nathanson, a notorious abortionist (he presided over the killing of 60,000 babies), who attracts the charismatic feminist Betty Friedan (Lucy Davenport). Together, they gather a group of activists who scour the country looking for a pregnant girl to use to sue the government for her right to have an abortion. Enter Twentysomething mother of two Norma McCorvey, aka “Jane Roe,” who is propositioned by Weddington and agrees to sue district attorney of Dallas County, Texas, Henry Wade (James Dumont) to legalize abortion.
Allen, who cowrote, codirected, and coproduced the film with Loeb, said the meticulously researched film has been many years in the making. The pair started the project in 2016.
“Making such a polarizing film elicited a number of unexpected challenges from every angle…. It was worth all the challenges, all the up-hill battles. The truth about the Roe v. Wade case needs to be told, and I am honored to help jump start a conversation not only on this case but on our government as a whole,” remarked Allen.
“There was zero support from anyone in Hollywood to make this film,” said Allen, noting that she and Loeb reached out to everyone they could think of, from pro-life groups to religious groups to help launch the project. “Similar to today,” she explained, “in the 1960s and 1970s, they were dealing with new appointments of Supreme Court Justices and a lot of manipulation by the media. People think they know the story that led to the landmark case, of a troubled young woman from Texas, known as Jane Roe, who wanted to get an abortion. This couldn’t be further from the real truth.”
Using just the facts, Allen and Loeb set out to present an informative and compassionate film about human rights. They both are advocates for the rights of the unborn, hoping audiences will decide for themselves on which side of the issue they will fall once they view the movie. “When given all the facts, my hope is that people will see this film is about life and the civil rights of the unborn,” said Allen.
Attendees of CPAC should add this premiere to their itinerary. Groups interested in hosting event screenings through April 26 should visit the Roe v. Wade movie homepage.
