Truman (TV 1995)

Biographical account of America's President for the latter part of WWII. Shows Truman's rise from small-town nobody to leader of the USA, his decission to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan,... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writers:

David McCullough (book), Thomas Rickman (teleplay)

Stars:

Gary Sinise, Diana Scarwid, Richard Dysart

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Sinise	...	Harry S. Truman
Diana Scarwid	...	Bess Truman
Richard Dysart	...	Henry L. Stimson
Colm Feore	...	Charlie Ross
James Gammon	...	Sam Rayburn
Tony Goldwyn	...	Clark Clifford
Pat Hingle	...	Boss Tom Pendergast
Harris Yulin	...	General George Marshall
Leo Burmester	...	Frank Vassar
Amelia Campbell	...	Margaret Truman
Virginia Capers	...	Elizabeth Moore
John Finn	...	Bob Hannegan
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Eddie Jacobson
David Lansbury	...	Lt. Jim Pendergast
Remak Ramsay	...	Dean Acheson (as Remak Ramsey)

Storyline

Biographical account of America's President for the latter part of WWII. Shows Truman's rise from small-town nobody to leader of the USA, his decission to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan, and subsequent election as the US' post-war President.

---

Plot Keywords:

president | election | armed forces | cold war | corruption | 

---

Taglines:

It Took A Farmer's Hands To Shape A Nation

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some war footage

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Truman - Der Mann, der Geschichte schrieb

Filming Locations:

Independence, Missouri, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Spring Creek Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes of Truman's election night were filmed exactly where Harry Truman spent his election night. Truman went to bed on election night with reports predicting his defeat by Dewey at the Elm's Hotel Resort and Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, USA.

---

Goofs

In the WWI segment, when Truman and his men have called for a successful artillery strike against an enemy position, the men are cheering and we can clearly hear one of them shouting "Alright!" It was not until the 1970s that people began using the word "alright' by itself as a cheer or as an exclamation of satisfaction.

---

Quotes

Harry S. Truman: If I don't drop the bomb, so many more of our young men will die in the invasion of Japan. Their men, too, and women and children. How can I face the people when it's finally over, and say that I had the power to possibly end the war, long ago, spare the lives of their loved ones, and I chose not to use it?
[pause]
Harry S. Truman: How could I look them in the face and tell them that?
Charlie Ross: Harry, you didn't come to me for common sense, you came to me for forgiveness. Do what you have to do. I'll still be your friend....

---

Connections

Referenced in The Oprah Winfrey Show: Summer Movie Reviews (1996)

---

Soundtracks

"Voi che sapete"
from "Le nozze di Figaro"
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart)
Performed by Margaret Truman
Courtesy of Edward Roche

User Reviews

The Buck stops here!

Gary Sinese goes a great job portraying the farmer who became a president- a man who could make tough decisions and live with them. Though surrounded by corruption, he never stooped to it. His letters to his wife are touching- since Bess did not cotton to Washington society. The whole movie- from his early days in haberdashery to the Korea and MacArthur are documented very well. I also liked the touch of his defending he daughter Margaret against the music critic of the Washington Post- He was a strong man- stubborn as a Missouri mule but also a man of intergrity.