On DVD: Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple

Directed by Stanley Nelson

If you find the story of Jim Jones and the Guyana tragedy fascinating, PBS Home Video recently released Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple on DVD.

The Movie

In 1978, Jim Jones, leader of the People’s Temple, gathered all of his followers in Guyana, Africa and 909 people drank poisoned Kool-Aid and committed mass suicide. Jones killed himself with a gunshot to the head. Nelson’s thorough documentary reveals the history of a strange man from Indiana named Jim Jones.

Through information provided by Jones himself and interviews with family members and friends, Jones’s highly troubled childhood is revealed. Neighbors tell stories of an alcoholic father and a young boy that liked to provide funeral services for dead dogs and cats found in the neighborhood. One man reveals that he witnessed Jones as a young boy kill a cat with a knife, then invite other children to the funeral service.

After leaving home and attending college, Jones became involved in the ministry. He soon realized he did not like the segregated churches that he was involved in during his time in Indiana. He wanted a church where everyone could attend, regardless of race. It was from this noble idea that the People’s Temple, lead by Jones, was started.

While Jones started out as a charismatic man with good intentions, he was also a very emotionally troubled individual with mental problems. He soon wanted complete control over the members of this congregation’s life. He started a commune in California and soon his members were working 24 hours a day on various projects. He became involved in politics and would “rent out” his members to hold political rallies for various causes and candidates. He even scored a position as the director of the San Francisco Housing Authority. But soon, the news media and newspapers started printing unsavory stories about the environment at the People’s Temple and Jones convinced his congregation the only way they would be left alone and be allowed to worship the way they wanted was to leave the United States. Thus, Jonestown was built in Guyana, Africa and Jones and 909 of his followers left the country.  We all know that happened in Guyana.

Nelson has directed a well-crafted documentary that gives the most complete history on Jim Jones and his followers that I have watched. Nelson has found positively amazing archival footage of early Jim Jones preaching on the pulpit, to the beginnings and early services of the People’s Temple, to the daily life in Guyana for Jones and his followers. There is also actual footage filmed on the day the suicides took place.

Nelson has created what I consider the most comprehensive documentary about the charismatic madman known as Jim Jones .Fans of documentary films or those just interested in the history of the People’s Temple should not miss this documentary.

8.5/10

The Video

Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple is presented in anamorphic widescreen. The quality of the archival footage varies, but overall the transfer of the film looks good.

7/10

The Audio

Jonestown: the Life and Death of the People’s Temple is presented in Dolby Digital stereo. The dialogue is crystal clear and easily understood throughout. This is not the DVD to demo your home theater system with, but it is suitable for the film presented.

7/10

The Packaging and the Bonus Features

Jonestown: the Life and Death of the People’s Temple is presented in a standard amaray case with artwork that while it gets the job done with the big picture of the man himself is just sort of boring.  The PBS banner at the top isn't very hip either.

There are a few bonus features to explore on this release. First up, there are 9 deleted scenes which come in at about 40 minutes of extra material. These are fascinating and definitely worth your time.

An Interview with the filmmaker: Stanley Nelson is offered. Clocking in at around 10 minutes, he discusses how he became interested in the subject matter, the process of making the film and how he acquired the amazing archival footage that is included in the film.

While the bonus features are not plentiful, the ones that are offered compliment the film well.

6.5/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 7.5/10

Suzie Lackey

The Movie 8.5/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 6.5/10

Overall (Not an Average) 7.5/10