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 bout with polio at age 40 in 1921 and how his family (and especially wife Eleanor) cope with his illness...

Plot Keywords:

Polio | Paralysis | Disease | Convention | 1920s

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 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
Janine Grandel	...	Marie the Housekeeper
Otis Greene	...	Edward the House Butler
Ivan Browning	...	Charles the Butler
Al McGranary	...	Sen. Walsh
Herbert Anderson	...	Daly
Jerry Crews	...	Speaker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fern Barry	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Mary Benoit	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
George Brand	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Craig Curtis	...	Newsboy (uncredited)
Floyd Curtis	...	Mailman (uncredited)
Francis De Sales	...	Riley (uncredited)
Don Dillaway	...	Sloan (uncredited)
Ted Dudomaine	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Ben Erway	...	Convention Delegrate (uncredited)
Tom Gibson	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
William F. Haddock	...	Mr. Owens (uncredited)
Jack Hendricks	...	Joe (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jim Hope	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Mike Jeffers	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Pete Kellett	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Kruger	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Ruth March	...	Miss Garroway (uncredited)
John McKee	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Doye O'Dell	...	Convention Delgate (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Ed Prentiss	...	Barker (uncredited)
Dore Schary	...	Chairman of Connecticut Delegation (uncredited)
Robert 'Buddy' Shaw	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Jack Shea	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Norman Stevens	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Art Stewart	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
John Truax	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Bruce Underhill	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Maurice Wells	...	Convention Delegate (uncredited)
Chalky Williams	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Conventioneer in Sara's Way (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincent J. Donehue

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dore Schary		screenplay
Dore Schary		story

Produced by
Walter Reilly	....	associate producer
Dore Schary	....	producer

Original Music by
Franz Waxman

Cinematography by
Russell Harlan

Film Editing by
George Boemler

Production Design by
Edward Carrere

Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins

Costume Design by
Marjorie Best

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Carla Hadley	....	hair stylist
Jean Burt Reilly	....	hair styles supervisor
Keester Sweeney	....	makeup artist
Lenore Weaver	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Joel Freeman	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wesley J. McAfee	....	assistant director
Russell Saunders	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
George Groves	....	sound
John Jensen	....	boom operator
M.A. Merrick	....	sound
Robert J. Miller	....	sound recordist
Frank Regula	....	cableman

Camera and Electrical Department
Warren E. Boes	....	best boy
Gerald Perry Finnerman	....	assistant camera
Bill Neff	....	gaffer
Bert Six	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dina Joseph	....	wardrobe: women
Bob Richards	....	wardrobe: men
Florence Albert	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael A. Hoey	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Dorothy Aldrin	....	script supervisor
Ted Ashton	....	publicist (uncredited)
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dore Schary Productions (as Schary Productions)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1965) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Eastport, Maine, USA

Company:

Dore Schary Productions

Trivia:

The Broadway production of "Sunrise at Campobello" by Dore Schary opened at the Cort Theater in New York on January 30, 1958, ran for 556 performances and won the 1958 Tony Award for the Best Play. Ralph Bellamy won the 1958 Tony Award for Best Actor in Play and recreated his stage role in the movie version.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the train departs to carry the Roosevelt family home from Campobello, there's a shot of the departing locomotive accompanied by typical steam-locomotive-starting-up sounds which are not paced or synchronized with the actual operation of the steam engine.

Quotes:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt:I feel I've had to go through the fire for some reason. Eleanor, it's a hard way to learn humility, but I've had to learn it by crawling. I know what is meant "You must learn to crawl, before you can walk."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Simon & Simon: Sunrise at Camp Apollo (#5.12)" (1986)

FDR Never Misses a Step with Ralph Bellamy

In 1921, while summering at his Campobello estate, future U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt (Ralph Bellamy) is stricken with "infantile paralysis" (also known as polio). Though the use of his legs is permanently lost, Mr. Roosevelt perseveres, combining inner strength with the support of wife Eleanor (Greer Garson) and political pal Louis Howe (Hume Cronyn). Ex-MGM production chief Dore Schary's "Sunrise at Campobello" began its life as a Broadway hit, and is a little too lengthy and theatrical as a motion picture. Still, it's an important story, about what may well wind up being the most important world leader of the twentieth century.

The film also features what has become regarded, in many circles, as a legendary portrayal of FDR by Mr. Bellamy, reprised in Dan Curtis' mammoth mini-series "The Winds of War" (1983) and follow-up "War and Remembrance" (1989). Bellamy's FDR won a "Tony" award, but was oddly overlooked for an "Oscar" (the five nominees as "Best Actor" were also deserving, however).

Ms. Garson did receive an "Academy Award" nomination as "Best Actress" for her portrayal of Eleanor; at the time, the role was considered a stretch, which Garson pulled off. Her vocal work often sounds too affected; but, so was the real Mrs. Roosevelt's voice, many would argue. Garson outright won the dramatic actress award from both the "Golden Globe" and the "National Board of Review" groups. Other organizations noted Mr. Schary's film was one of the year's best, with Vincent Donohue (Director), Bellamy, Garson, and Mr. Cronyn (Supporting Actor) among the honorably mentioned. The real Mrs. Roosevelt seems to have agreed.

******* Sunrise at Campobello (9/28/60) Dore Schary : Vincent J. Donehue ~ Ralph Bellamy, Greer Garson, Hume Cronyn, Tim Considine