"The American Experience" FDR: Part I (1994)

Director:

David Grubin

Writer:

David Grubin (writer)

TV Series:

"The American Experience" (1987)

Original Air Date:

12 October 1994 (Season 7, Episode 1)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | USA | Anthology | Public Media | Reenactment

Cast

Winston Churchill	...	Himself (archive footage)
David McCullough	...	Narrator
Eleanor Roosevelt	...	Herself (archive footage)
Franklin D. Roosevelt	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
Joseph Stalin	...	Himself (archive footage)
Harry S. Truman	...	Himself (archive footage)
Geoffrey C. Ward	...	Himself

Directed by
David Grubin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Grubin		writer

Produced by
Judy Crichton	....	executive producer
Margaret Drain	....	senior producer
Meg Froelich	....	associate producer
Chana Gazit	....	producer
David Grubin	....	producer
Larry LeCain	....	field producer
Allyson Luchak	....	assistant producer
Bob M. McCausland	....	field producer
Sheilagh D'Arcy McGee	....	associate producer
John L. Sullivan	....	field producer

Original Music by
Michael Bacon

Film Editing by
Geof Bartz
Susan Fanshel
Llewellyn M. Smith

Production Design by
Allison Kennedy		(series designer)
Chris Pullman		(series designer)

Production Management
Rebecca Barnes	....	post-production manager
Frank Capria	....	post-production supervisor
Christine Shen	....	unit manager

Sound Department
John Bowen	....	sound editor
Francis X. Coakley	....	sound recordist
Ken Hahn	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Longside	....	sound recordist
Richard Mader	....	sound recordist
Regina Mullen	....	sound editor
John Murphy	....	sound recordist
Ray Palagy	....	sound editor
Bruce Perlman	....	sound recordist
Roger Phenix	....	sound recordist
Roger Phenix	....	sound
Rob Silverthorne	....	sound recordist
David Vos	....	field audio

Camera and Electrical Department
Murdoch Campbell	....	gaffer
Anne-Marie Fendrick	....	assistant camera
Don Grissom	....	assistant camera
Damon Hennessey	....	electrician
William McCullough	....	additional cinematographer
Alan Palmer	....	aerial photographer
Roger Phenix	....	additional cinematographer
Larry Planet	....	assistant camera
Scott H. Ramsey	....	gaffer
William Rexer	....	assistant camera
Robert Sands	....	assistant camera
Doug Wallick	....	gaffer
Dick Williams	....	assistant camera

Animation Department
John Bowen	....	photo animator
Tim McCarthy	....	photo animator
Regina Mullen	....	photo animator
Ray Palagy	....	photo animator
Ralph Pitre	....	photo animator
Salvatore Raciti	....	animator: title animation

Editorial Department
Steve Audette	....	on-line editor
Stephen Baracsi	....	on-line editor
Geof Bartz	....	contributing editor
Dale Boyce	....	on-line editor
James Dalgish	....	colorist
Robert Featherstone	....	post-production assistant
Doug Martin	....	on-line editor
Dena Mermelstein	....	assistant editor
Philip Shane	....	assistant editor
Philip Shane	....	post-production assistant
Llewellyn M. Smith	....	on-line editor
Peter Stader	....	assistant editor
Mark Steele	....	on-line editor
Paul Taylor	....	editorial consultant
Dan Watson	....	on-line editor
Patricia Zey	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Michael Bacon	....	series theme adaption
Paula Kimper	....	score preparation
Charles Kuskin	....	series theme adaption

Other crew
Johanna Baker	....	publicist
Maureen Barden	....	project administrator
Alan Brinkley	....	advisor
Al Cerullo	....	aerial pilot
Joe Conley	....	photo researcher
Robert Dallek	....	advisor
Hilary Dann	....	film researcher
Nancy Farrell	....	project administrator
Dana Fox	....	production executive
Ellen Frey	....	publicist
Kathy Gerhardt	....	publicist
Doris Kearns Goodwin	....	creative consultant
Mari Lou Granger	....	project administrator
David Grubin	....	researcher
Elizabeth Grubin	....	production assistant
Peter Hawkins	....	researcher
Abigail Kende	....	rights coordinator
William Leuchtenburg	....	advisor
Megan Lukas	....	research assistant
Dave Meichsner	....	production assistant
Peter Allen Moore	....	researcher
Susan Mottau	....	production coordinator
Susan Nickerson	....	film researcher
Daphne B. Noyes	....	publicist
Bill Nye	....	production assistant
Claudia Odyniec	....	location assistant
Linda Patterson	....	location assistant
Adam Schenck	....	production assistant
Ann Scott	....	project administrator
Michael Shepley	....	publicist
Jonathan Shoemaker	....	production assistant
Jonathan Shoemaker	....	research assistant
Paul Taylor	....	script supervisor
Bill Tomlin	....	production assistant
Geoffrey C. Ward	....	senior creative consultant
Susan Ware	....	advisor

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rocky Collins		multiple episodes
Henry Hampton		creator

Produced by
Rocky Collins	....	producer (multiple episodes)

Sound Department
Doug Madick	....	foley artist (multiple episodes)

Distributors

• American Experience

Other Companies

• Sync Sound  sound editorial and mixing facilities

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Birth up until he assumes the presidency.

This is the first part of a PBS documentary from "The American Experience" concerning the life of Franklin Roosevelt. It covers his life from birth up until he boards the train for Washington to assume the presidency.

Like many episodes of the series, it's narrated by historian/writer David McCullough. In addition, it's made up of various interviews, photos and stock film. Together, with some appropriate music, it made for a very well-done documentary.

Much of what I saw I already knew. After all, I am a retired American and World History teacher. However, I liked the film because it still packed a few surprises. For example, although it's common knowledge NOW that he was paralyzed from polio, I had no idea that he spent 2/3 of his fortune building a rehabilitation facility for other victims of the disease. And, while I am aware of the tricks he used to make it appear as if he could walk, seeing the footage and hearing exactly how he did it was pretty interesting--and pretty sad that they had to worry about folks who might hold his disability against him. All in all, the story was very well told and I am looking forward to part two. A bully good program...no, wait...that's the wrong Roosevelt.