FESTIVAL

President Richard Nixon’s re-election bid in 1972, at one point hugging Nixon. A photo of that hug haunted Davis.

“This is who he was,” Pollard said. “He showed his emotions openly. It’s sad that he didn’t understand the social and political ramifications of the hug.”

Suddenly, Sammy wasn’t cool anymore — especially as black culture turned toward Blaxploitation movies and funk music, the film says.

Davis continued to perform through the 1970s and ’80s until he developed throat cancer. Rather than undergo surgery that would destroy his voice, he opted for radiation treatment. He died on May 16, 1990, at age 64.

Pollard himself has witnessed positive audience response to “I’ve Gotta Be Me.”

“The last screening I was at was in San Francisco, and the place was packed,” Pollard said. “After the film was over … the audience just broke out into applause. Films screening during the Columbus Jewish Film Festival; tickets cost $12, or $10 in advance for senior citizens and Jewish Community Center members, unless noted otherwise: • 6:30 p.m. Sunday: “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me,” Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., with director Sam Pollard attending ($35) • 7 p.m. Monday: “An Act of Defiance,” Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., with Nicki Bloch, president, National Council of Jewish Women, attending • 7 p.m. Wednesday: “The Testament,” McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, with Rabbi Rick Kellner attending • 7 p.m. Nov. 8: “The Last Suit — Kristallnacht,” Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Ave., with Rabbi Hillel Skolnik attending • 2 p.m. Nov. 11: “Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George,” Jewish Community Center It really goes over big.

“Here was a man who was a tremendous all-around entertainer who should not be forgotten, who was richly • 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11: “The Cakemaker,” Drexel Theare, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley • 7 p.m. Nov. 13: “Promise at Dawn,” Drexel Theatre • 7 p.m. Nov. 15: “Who Will Write Our History,” Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., with director Roberta Grossman attending • 11:30 a.m. Nov. 18: Shorts program, including winning films in the Andrew Ethan Stern short-film competition, Drexel theatre • 2:30 p.m. Nov. 18: screening of the first two episodes of the Israeli TV series “When Heroes Fly,” Drexel Theatre • 5 p.m. Nov. 18: “Longing,” Drexel Theatre • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18: “Once in the Lifetime,” Jewish Community Center (teenagers only; free, registration required) • 6:30 p.m. Monday: “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” with director Jeremy Newberger and team member Josh Zeid, McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. DublinGranville Road, New Albany

— Terry Mikesell tmikesel@dispatch.com @terrymikesell

complex but very articulate about who he was.”