Here are audience reactions to the documentary "Second Opinion: Laetrile and Sloan-Kettering" after it was released in independent theaters.
About the documentary:
“Ralph W. Moss has stayed the course in stating his case. I am glad his voice is being heard.”
Harold P. Freeman, MDPast National President, American Cancer Society and Past Chairman, President’s Cancer Panel
The War On Cancer, launched in the early 1970s, set the stage for a massive influx of new ideas in fighting the disease of cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, America’s leading cancer research center at the time, was assigned the task of testing an unconventional therapy called “Laetrile” in an effort to curb the public’s “false hope” in the alleged “quack” therapy.
Ralph W. Moss PhD, a young and eager science writer, was hired by Sloan-Kettering’s public relations department in 1974 to help brief the American public on the center’s contribution to the War On Cancer. One of his first assignments was to write a biography about Dr. Kanematsu Sugiura, one of the Center’s oldest and leading research scientists as well as the original co-inventor of chemotherapy.
While meeting with this iconic scientist to pen a biography on his 60-year career at Sloan-Kettering, Moss discovered that Sugiura had been studying this “quack remedy” in laboratory mice, and with unexpectedly positive results. Shocked and bewildered, Moss reported back to his superiors what he had discovered, only to be met with backlash and denial from Sloan-Kettering’s leaders on what their own leading scientist had found.
Fueled by respect and admiration for Sugiura—Ralph W. Moss attempted to publicize the truth about Sugiura’s findings. And after all diplomatic approaches failed, Moss lived a double life, working as a loyal employee at Sloan-Kettering while also recruiting fellow employees to help anonymously leak this information to the American public—through a newly formed underground organization they called—“Second Opinion”.
Media quotes about the film:
“Though a documentary, it’s dramatic enough to be reminiscent of ‘The Insider’, the whistleblowing thriller about Big Tobacco.”
—Graham Fuller, New York Daily News - August 28, 2014
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“Mr. Moss’s message is clear, shrewdly edited and peculiarly interesting.”
—Anita Gates, New York Times – August 28, 2014
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“an intriguing tale”
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, September 4, 2014
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“‘has the production value of a Hollywood whistle-blower thriller”
—The Stranger, Seattle WA, September 18, 2014
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“‘Second Opinion’ revives stifled testing of cancer drug”
—San Francisco Chronicle, September 10, 2014
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“unraveling the threads of a contested cancer treatment”
—San Francisco Weekly, September 10, 2014
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“See this film for a riveting account of the conflicts between corporate power and the public good.”
—Counter Punch – August 29, 2014
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“Captivating story”—This Week In New York – August 31, 2014
“‘Nobody is going to pay $70,000 for a new cancer drug if they can buy Laetrile for 75 cents.” There you have it.”—Reel Life with Jane – August 31, 2014
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“this is a worthy piece of work.”—Hollywood Report Card
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“riveting…absorbing study of men who sold out science at a renowned institution” —Anthony Liversidge, New Movies New York - August 31, 2014
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“shocking … eye-opening expose’ confirming your worst fears”—Kam Williams - August 30, 2014
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“A fascinating, eye-opening and enraging exposé”—NYC Movie Guru - August 29, 2014
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“Disturbing … what happens when language must be turned inside out”—Pop Matters - August 29, 2014
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"Second Opinion: Laetrile At Sloan-Kettering" is directed and produced by Eric Merola
http://www.ericmerola.com
The film is highly praised on IMDB and Amazon reviews too:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3547098/?ref_=plg_rt_1
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Opinion-L ... 00IITS8PO/