John Lennon documentary director salutes his political bravery

David Leaf, one of the directors of the upcoming documentary The US vs. John Lennon, says that more than anything else, the film shows the former Beatle's absolute bravery in trying to stop the war in Vietnam. The film chronicles Lennon's four-year fight to stay in America while battling deportation by the Nixon administration.

Leaf told us that the sacrifices Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono undertook during their "War Is Over" peace campaign can't be overstated: "What John Lennon did was fearless. He was willing to put it all on the line in the campaign for peace starting in '69, and he did not consider or care what the consequences were. He was willing to make a fool of himself and he was willing to be mocked if it would save lives. He and Yoko should have won the Nobel Peace Prize."

The US vs. John Lennon opens in New York and Los Angeles on September 15th, followed by a wider release at the end of September.

The film includes appearances by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, Geraldo Rivera, counter culture revolutionaries Angela Davis and Bobby Seale, 1972 Democratic Presidential nominee Senator George McGovern, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, and Walter Cronkite. Also appearing are Nixon administration and Watergate veterans G. Gordon Liddy and Howard Dean.

For more information, log on to theusversusjohnlennon.com.

The film's soundtrack, which will be released in September 26th, includes such Lennon solo classics such as "Give Peace A Chance," "Imagine," "Power To The People," "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)," "Nobody Told Me," "God," "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," and others.

Leaf and partner John Scheinfeld have produced such critically acclaimed documentaries as Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson & The Story Of Smile, Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him???), The Bee Gees: This Is Where I Came In, Ricky Nelson Sings, and The Bette Midler Biography.