Tongues Untied
“Black Men Loving Black Men”
Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.
Where to watch Tongues Untied in United States
Can I watch Tongues Untied in United States? Yes — you can stream Tongues Untied in United States on OVID and Kanopy.
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KanopyClick a service to open Tongues Untied there. Availability last verified on July 31, 2026.
Where is Tongues Untied streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | OVID, Kanopy | — |
| Canada | OVID | — |
About Tongues Untied
Tongues Untied is a 1990 English-language documentary film directed by Marlon Riggs. The cast is led by Marlon Riggs, Essex Hemphill, Brian Freeman. It has a runtime of 0h 55m. Viewers rate it 6.6/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on OVID, Kanopy.
Tongues Untied was produced by Signifyin' Works and made in United States of America. It was released on March 16, 1990.
- Director
- Marlon Riggs
- Writers
- Joseph Beam, Reginald Jackson, Steve Langley
- Release date
- March 16, 1990
- Original language
- English
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Production
- Signifyin' Works
Tongues Untied cast & crew
Tongues Untied was directed by Marlon Riggs and written by Joseph Beam, Reginald Jackson, and Steve Langley.
The cast features Marlon Riggs as Self, Essex Hemphill as Self - Poetry Performance, Brian Freeman as Self, Michael Bell as Self, Willi Ninja as Self, and Kerrigan Black as Self.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Steve Langley, cinematography is by Vivian Kleiman, and it was produced by Marlon Riggs.
Is Tongues Untied worth watching?
Tongues Untied holds an audience score of 6.6/10 from 61 ratings, a solidly received documentary films.
At 0h 55m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy documentary, Tongues Untied is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Tongues Untied
In United States, you can stream Tongues Untied on OVID and Kanopy. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Tongues Untied
Marlon Riggs
Self
Essex Hemphill
Self - Poetry Performance
Brian Freeman
Self
Michael Bell
Self
Willi Ninja
Self
Kerrigan Black
Self
Blackberri
Self
Djola Bernard Branner
Self
Eddie Murphy
Self (archive footage)
Tongues Untied — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Tongues Untied in United States?
Tongues Untied is streaming on OVID, Kanopy in United States.
▸Is Tongues Untied on OVID?
Yes — Tongues Untied is currently available on OVID in United States.
▸What language is Tongues Untied in?
Tongues Untied is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Tongues Untied?
Tongues Untied runs 0 hours 55 minutes (55 minutes).
▸What is Tongues Untied rated?
It holds a 6.6/10 audience score from 61 ratings.
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