Sunrise at Campobello (1960)

Director:

Vincent J. Donehue

Writers:

Dore Schary (screenplay)
Dore Schary (story)

Release Date:

28 September 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

THE GREAT AMERICAN LOVE STORY!

Plot:

The story of Franklin Roosevelt's (Ralph Bellamy) bout with polio at age 40 in 1921 and how his family (and especially wife Eleanor...

Plot Keywords:

Polio | Politics | Franklin D. Roosevelt | Religious Discrimination | Wheelchair

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Ralph Bellamy	...	Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Greer Garson	...	Eleanor Roosevelt
Hume Cronyn	...	Louis Howe
Jean Hagen	...	Missy Le Hand
Ann Shoemaker	...	Sara Delano Roosevelt
Alan Bunce	...	Gov. Alfred E. Smith
Tim Considine	...	James Roosevelt
Zina Bethune	...	Anna Roosevelt
Frank Ferguson	...	Dr. Bennett
Pat Close	...	Elliott Roosevelt
Robin Warga	...	Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr.
Tom Carty	...	Johnny Roosevelt
Lyle Talbot	...	Mr. Brimmer
David White	...	Mr. Lassiter
Walter Sande	...	Capt. Skinner

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Eastport, Maine, USA

Company:

Schary Productions

Trivia:

Ralph Bellamy and Alan Bunce are the only two actors from the original Broadway stage production to repeat their roles in the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the 1924 convention, he did not walk to the podium on crutches. His son James supported him on one side, while he supported himself with a cane on the other. This gave more of an appearance of walking to an observer.

Quotes:

Eleanor Roosevelt: I have this naive view that you should pursue principles without calculating the consequences.
Louis Howe: You're no politician.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Skydivers (#7.9)" (1994)

Drama on Early FDR

"Sunrise at Campobello" enacts early events in the personal life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt with fine production values, including solid performances.

Certainly both Ralph Bellamy and Greer Garson had their work cut out playing, respectively, Franklin and Eleanor. They got their characterizations down pat, and their work is of a high calibre.

The talented supporting cast is headed by Hume Cronyn as Franklin's best friend and Ann Shoemaker as his doting mother. Jean Hagen is seen as a good-natured secretary.

It may be that Dore Schary's script from his play was too lengthy, or that Vincent J. Donahue's direction was too slow. Whatever the case, running at 144 minutes this seems a pretty long haul for the average viewer.

Bellamy's work is consistently exectued, with all of the famous FDR mannerisms--it is also slowly-paced. Garson's Eleanor captures her distinctivly slow, deliberate speech cadence. Likewise, both principals' makeups are subtely effective.

The script begins in 1921 when Franklin was 40 and wisely ends just three years later with his politically important nominating speech for Al Smith. While there may be some dramatic modifications of factual material, the basic flavor of the period and characters are well handled.

Fraklin's overcoming of physical adversity to become a four term US president is a story of great interest, from both a human and professional perspective. "Sunrise at Campolbello" skillfully presents this inspired period of American history.