Five years ago ABC aired “The Path to 9/11,” a five-hour docudrama that explained how terrorists plotted to attack America on that frightful September morning in 2001. The movie sparked protests and attempts to stop ABC from showing it. Former President Bill Clinton was among those most displeased.
As America marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the movie remains under lock and key at ABC. The network never released it on DVD. In fact, last week’s screening at The Heritage Foundation was the first public showing of the film since its television debut in 2006.
“This is the only banned film in America,” says producer Cyrus Nowrasteh, who agreed to let Heritage show it after meeting our colleague James Carafano, director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies.
Listen to our interview with Cyrus Nowrasteh on Scribecast
Since the movie’s release five years ago, it’s mostly vanished from public discourse. Nowrasteh says that’s unfortunate. It remains one of the most comprehensive representations of the 9/11 Commission Report. It’s not for a lack of trying. Three years ago, filmmaker John Ziegler and producer David Bossie of Citizens United released a documentary, “Blocking The Path to 9/11.”
These days Nowrasteh is working on other projects. He’s currently producing a film based on Anne Rice’s book, “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt.” He’s also developing a film about the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, a movie he described as the American version of “300.” Gerard Butler, who played King Leonidas in that movie, will play the role of President Andrew Jackson.
The podcast runs about 12 minutes. It was produced by Hannah Sternberg. Listen to previous interviews on Scribecast or subscribe to future episodes.
