Warm Springs (2005) (TV)

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer (WGA):

Margaret Nagle (written by)

Release Date:

30 April 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The greatest challenge FDR faced was the one we never saw.

Plot:

Franklin Roosevelt, left a paraplegic from polio at 39 years of age, seeks out a miracle cure in the backwoods of Georgia.

Plot Keywords:

Polio | Paralysis | Paraplegic | Spa | Politics

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 26 nominations

Cast

Kenneth Branagh	...	Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Cynthia Nixon	...	Eleanor Roosevelt
David Paymer	...	Louis Howe
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Tom Loyless
Matt O'Leary	...	Fred Botts (as Matthew O'Leary)
Matt Malloy	...	Lionel Purdy
Andy Davoli	...	Jake Perini (as Andrew Davoli)
Nelsan Ellis	...	Roy Collier
Jane Alexander	...	Sara Delano Roosevelt
Kathy Bates	...	Helena Mahoney
Melissa Ponzio	...	Lucy Mercer
Quint Von Canon	...	Stephen Teller
Mike Pniewski	...	Hastings, Party Leader
Grayce Spence	...	League Member
Rand Hopkins	...	Dr. Lovett
Brian F. Durkin	...	Elliott Roosevelt (as Brian Durkin)
Carrie Adams	...	Anna - Age 19
Georgia Miles	...	Anna - Age 12
Devon Gearhart	...	Elliot - Age 8 and 11
Tripp Hennington	...	Franklin Junior - Age 9
Sam Frihart	...	John - Age 7
Matthew Stanton	...	Scoutmaster (as Matt Stanton)
Ron Clinton Smith	...	Eugene
Lonnie R. Smith Jr.	...	Stanley
Jill Jane Clements	...	Waitress
Dave Hager	...	Pat Doyle
Felicia Day	...	Eloise Hutchinson
Meggie Geisland	...	Daisy
E. Roger Mitchell	...	Pete Collier
Deborah Duke	...	Aunt Sally (as Deborah Calloway Duke)
Bob Seel	...	Cleburne Gregory, Reporter
Brian Beegle	...	Benjamin Pendergrast
Steve Coulter	...	Dr. Bissell
Marianne Fraulo	...	Missy Lehand (as Marrianne Fraulo)
Jody Thompson	...	Woodhall Busey
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Conductor
Lori Beth Edgeman	...	Mary Beth (as Lori Beth Sikes Edgeman)
Teal Sherer	...	Chorus Girl #1
Margo G. Dietrich	...	Chorus Girl #2 (as Margo Gathright-Dietrich)
Laurel Lawson	...	Chorus Girl #3
Danny Nelson	...	Farmer
Sharon Blackwood	...	Farmer's Wife
Bart Hansard	...	Stationmaster at Bullochsville
Terry Loughlin	...	Dr. Peter Hebert
Marc McPherson	...	Dr. Willis
J.L. Parker	...	Helena's Driver
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	Al Smith
Terrence Gibney	...	Crony #1
David Silverman	...	Crony #2 (as David Silverman)
Robert C. Treveiler	...	Dan Reed (as Robert Trevelier)
Carl McIntyre	...	Reporter
Greg Thompson	...	Photographer
Ron Goss	...	Convention Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tim Blanchard	...	Conventioneer
John Collier	...	Cafe Patron
Danny Connell	...	The Piano Player
Dana Delappi	...	Polio girl in restaurant
Ben Turner Dixon	...	James Roosevelt (as Turner Dixon)
Justin Warren Downing	...	Young Doctor
Michael Byrd Elliott	...	Pushboy
Joey Goldman	...	Boy Scout
Jordan Guzman	...	Guiseppe
Dave Haney	...	Reporter
Azel James	...	Young Reporter
Seth Morris	...	Student
Andy Rusk	...	Page
Preston Thompson	...	Boy Scout
Maxwell Bach	...	Boy Scout (uncredited)
Ted Boonthanakit	...	Storyboard Artist (uncredited)
Joe Bosma	...	Extra (uncredited)
Matthew Browning	...	Factory Worker (uncredited)
Luanne Byrd	...	Politician's Wife (uncredited)
Dalton Cole	...	Student (uncredited)
Clay Cranford	...	Conventioneer (uncredited)
Jon Everry	...	Young Doctor (uncredited)
Julie Guy	...	Democratic Convention Attendee (uncredited)
Jyn Hall	...	School Marm (uncredited)
Craig S. Harper	...	Houston Police Officer (uncredited)
Robert Hatch	...	Doctor (uncredited)
AmyKathryn Jones	...	Conventioner (uncredited)
Missy Key	...	Democratic Convention Attendee (uncredited)
David Lowe	...	Houston Police Officer (uncredited)
Luke Morris	...	Farmer's Son (uncredited)
Eric Packham	...	Push Boy (uncredited)
John Fitzgerald Page	...	Disabled Dignitary (uncredited)
J.T. Seidler	...	Pushboy / Lifeguard (uncredited)
Spencer Showalter	...	Boy Scout (uncredited)
Robert Paul Smith	...	Roosevelt Supporter (uncredited)
Brian Spencer	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Syvonne	...	Kitchen Aide (uncredited)
Terrance Thomas	...	Farmer's Son (uncredited)
Jason Von Stein	...	Extra (uncredited)
Jerry L. Wallace	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Joe Walsh	...	Factory Worker (uncredited)
Steve Warren	...	1920 Convention Speaker (uncredited)
Nathan Wright	...	Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Kenneth L. Zirkman	...	Samuel Mills (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Sargent

Writing credits (WGA)
Margaret Nagle		(written by)

Produced by
Celia D. Costas	....	executive producer
Juanita F. Diana	....	associate producer
Mark Gordon	....	executive producer
Chrisann Verges	....	producer

Original Music by
Bruce Broughton

Cinematography by
Robbie Greenberg

Film Editing by
Michael Brown

Casting by
Shay Griffin
Lynn Kressel

Production Design by
Sarah Knowles

Art Direction by
Thomas Minton
Scott Ritenour

Set Decoration by
Frank Galline

Costume Design by
Hope Hanafin

Makeup Department
Vanessa Davis	....	key hair stylist
Jim Knell	....	production photographer: Captive Audience Productions
Taylor Knight	....	hair department head
Mark Nieman	....	silicone prosthetic technician
Donna M. Premick	....	key makeup artist
Scott H. Reeder	....	assistant hair stylist
Jennifer Santiago	....	assistant hair stylist
Brian Sipe	....	special makeup supervisor
Linda Thompson	....	assistant hair stylist
Denise Tunnell	....	makeup artist
Keith VanderLaan	....	special makeup effects creator: Captive Audience Productions
Carla White	....	makeup department head
Mary Kim	....	makeup effects production supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management
Carl Clifford	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Camille Cellucci	....	second unit director
Cas Donovan	....	first assistant director
Rhonda Guthrie	....	second second assistant director
Michael Helfand	....	second assistant director
Mark Trapenberg	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Paige Adair	....	art department assistant: graphics
Daniel Boxer	....	property master
Taryn Chilivis	....	construction auditor
Christopher Didiot	....	on-set dresser
Karen A. Felix	....	on-set dresser
Daniel B. Foster	....	leadman
Roland Heart	....	props
Michelle Ihnot	....	set dresser
Dierdre Kane	....	assistant property master
Tony Kupersmith	....	construction coordinator
Johnny Land	....	scenic foreman
Drew Meyers	....	set dresser
David H. Nash	....	location foreman
Mark Nave	....	carpenter
Robert Tate Nichols	....	set dresser
Kelly Richardson	....	art department coordinator
Lisa 'Pike' Rincon	....	props
Windi Robinson	....	greensman
Ann Stacy	....	camera scenic
Lance Totten	....	set dresser
William Harvey Wallace II	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Bailey	....	foley artist (as Jim Bailey)
David Beadle	....	sound editor
John Benson	....	foley artist
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
Jane Boegel	....	sound editor (as Jane Boegle)
Mark Cookson	....	sound editor
Russell DeWolf	....	sound editor (as Russ DeWolf)
Juanita F. Diana	....	sound editor (as Juanita Diana)
Jesse Dodd	....	foley mixer (as Jesse K-D. Dodd)
Andrew Ellerd	....	sound editor
Mary H. Ellis	....	production sound mixer (as Mary Ellis)
Thomas Giordano	....	production sound technician: additional photography Los Angeles
Sonya Henry	....	dialogue editor
Patrick Hogan	....	sound editor
Eileen Horta	....	sound editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jason Lezama	....	sound editor
Colt Logan	....	sound utility
Stuart Martin	....	sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Todd Murakami	....	sound editor
Ryan Murphy	....	sound mix technician
Brian Thomas Nist	....	sound editor
Drew Ponder	....	boom operator
Robert Ramirez	....	sound editor (as Robert Arturo Ramirez)
Richard Taylor	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Chris Hampton	....	special effects technician
Matt Neel	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	digital opticals colorist
Kirk Cadrette	....	computer graphics supervisor
Camille Cellucci	....	visual effects producer
Jacqueline Cooper	....	digital compositor
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer
Thomas F. Ford IV	....	visual effects producer: Radium
Todd Hemsley	....	Inferno artist
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator
Mark Intravartolo	....	digital effects artist
Julie Jang	....	Inferno artist
Jessica Dara Westbrook	....	visual effects coordinator
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor
Jeffrey Louie	....	Inferno senior production engineer (uncredited)

Stunts
Cal Johnson	....	stunt double: Kenneth Branagh

Camera and Electrical Department
Reid Andrews	....	rigging electrician
Chris Antignane	....	electrician
Brent Bazinski	....	rigging electrician
Pete Bowman	....	grip
J. Christopher Campbell	....	grip (as Christopher Campbell)
Dan Cornwall	....	gaffer
David Ellis	....	electrician
Eddie Evans	....	key grip
Robert K. Feldmann	....	grip
Dale Fowler	....	best boy electric
Donny Fowler	....	electrician
Bob Greene	....	still photographer
Jos'h Hancher	....	assistant camera
Chris Hayes	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Keith Jordan	....	camera operator
David McLean	....	electrician
Mark Miller	....	electrician
Greg Morse	....	video assist
Harrison Palmer	....	electrician
Robert Robinson	....	assistant camera
Robert Robinson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Fred Thomas	....	assistant camera
Troy Toebben	....	electrician
Mike Torino	....	film loader
Rick Tschudin	....	assistant camera
Mike Tyson	....	electrician

Casting Department
Janella Bersabal	....	extras casting assistant
Patrick Ingram	....	extras casting supervisor
Jaime Rembo	....	casting associate
Eleanor Seigler	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jason Bland	....	costumer
Jane Blank	....	seamstress
Layne Brightwell	....	key set costumer
Sekinah Brown	....	costumer
Katherine Dover	....	key costumer
K. Drew Fuller	....	costumer
Mari Grimaud	....	costume supervisor
Zandra Harding	....	costumer
Keith G. Lewis	....	costume supervisor
Nan McCulloch	....	set costumer
Gertrude Moore	....	seamstress
Iliana Sanchez	....	costumer
Barbara Vazquez	....	costumer
Joulles Wright	....	set costumer
Amanda Zenil	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
J. Christopher Campbell	....	assistant editor (as Christopher Campbell)
Jason Neese	....	post-production assistant
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Lori Taffet	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Bruce Broughton	....	conductor
Bruce Broughton	....	orchestrator
Ed Kalnins	....	music editor
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor
Tim Rodier	....	music preparation
Armin Steiner	....	score mixer
Ido Waksman	....	assistant music editor
Philip Tallman	....	music editor: temp (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Brubaker	....	driver
Dale Combs	....	driver: production van
Chuck Graydon	....	driver
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Jalyn Henton	....	driver
Mike Robinson	....	art driver
Hank Van Apeldoorn	....	transportation
Oranz Walker	....	driver
David Carlton White	....	grip: truck driver

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach
Patrick Andrews	....	location manager
Gloria Winship Ayon	....	head animal trainer
Shane Ayon	....	head horse wrangler
Neill Calabro	....	photo double: David Paymer
Philip Covin	....	stand-in: Kenneth Branagh
David Doerman	....	video production assistant
Derrick Doose	....	set production assistant
Deb Dyer	....	production accountant
John Findley	....	location scout (as John Findley III)
Larry Gilbert	....	police security
George 'Skip' Henfling	....	first assistant production accountant
Jalyn Henton	....	assistant production office coordinator
Tony Holley	....	location assistant
Nancy Honeycutt	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Gail Hunter	....	script supervisor
Mark Jacyszyn	....	production coordinator: Captive Audience Prod.
Lori A. Lopes	....	second assistant accountant
Harvey Lowry	....	director of operations: Captive Audience Productions
Kamisha McCullough	....	accounting clerk
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer
Kathryn Moïse	....	assistant: Ms. Costas
Winifred Murungi	....	production secretary
Tom Oastler	....	payroll accountant
Rosemary Orlando	....	assistant production coordinator
John Fitzgerald Page	....	production assistant
John Fitzgerald Page	....	stand-in: Andy Davoli, Brian Beegle, Brian Durkin, Carrie Adams, Dave Hager, David Paymer, Devon Gearhart, E. Roger Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Jody Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Matt Malloy, Matt O'Leary, Nelsan Ellis, Tim Blake Nelson
Mike Riley	....	location manager
Douglas Scott	....	choreographer: "I Won't Dance"
Rozanne Stark	....	set teacher
Heather Swain	....	stand-in: Kathy Bates (as Heather Greenich)
Katie Taylor	....	assistant: Ms. Verges
Jeremy Thomas	....	production assistant
Mike Thompson	....	stand-in: Kenneth Branagh
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearance
Kelly Tippens	....	stand-in: Cynthia Nixon
Nadia Venesse	....	dialect coach
Teresa M. Yarbrough	....	production coordinator
Seth Zimmerman	....	production assistant
Joe Bosma	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Franklin D. Roosevelt	....	voice-over: closing credits (uncredited) (archive footage)

Production Companies

• HBO Films
• Mark Gordon Company, The
• Mark Gordon Productions

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects

Other Companies

• Animal Actors Sweet Sunshine  animal provider
• Animal Actors Sweet Sunshine  animals provided by
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:121 min | Argentina:121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

The cottage in Warm Springs that Roosevelt (Kenneth Branagh) stays in is actually one of the cottages that the real Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed in.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the attendants lift FDR into the pool, the reflection in the water shows two completely healthy legs, although through the use of CGI, Kenneth Branagh's real legs actually do look as if they had been affected by polio.

Quotes:

Al Smith:[listening to Roosevelt on the radio] Mark my words; he'll be dead in less than a year.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Quinceañera (2006)

Soundtrack:

I'll See You In My Dreams

Absolutely amazing!!

In what I have said before has been a very good year for movies with such amazing films as Finding Neverland, Ray, Million Dollar Baby and so on. Along comes an absolute remarkable find...and a television movie nonetheless. Warm Springs is quite possibly one of, if not THE, best movie I have ever seen, I can't recommend this enough. I can't promise that everyone will feel the same about it but I can guarantee you can't not like it and not feel passionate about it.

Warm Springs is the story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt following his unsuccessful bid for vice president. A year following that bid at 39 years old he is struck down with infantile paralysis, better known as Polio. The powerful man is devastated by the crippling disease. His life as he knew it is over. He drinks his way out of public life and hides himself away, ashamed by the disease. After trying many different healing methods and medicines he is informed of a place in the backwoods of Georgia called "Warm Springs" a mineralized pool resort where a crippled boy found he was able to walk in the waters because of the high mineral concentration. Desperate to try anything Roosevelt goes to the location. He is shocked by the state of the resort which is run down, and poorly operated. Out of desperation he stays out of his element in order to try the water. After several treatments in the water he suddenly finds himself revitalized and able to step in the water. He falls in love with the run down Warm Springs and agrees to an interview with a local newspaper. Despite the reporters attempt to make the interview about Roosevelt, Roosevelt talks about Warm Springs to no end. Next thing he knows Polio victims from all over are risking everything to come to Warm Springs. They can't pay, most of them are poor, and the "healthy" guests are threatening to check out fearing they will catch the disease. The waters are miraculous and Roosevelt finds a whole new public and a whole new reason to live in his fellow sufferers. His wife meanwhile keeps the Roosevelt name in the public eye by becoming spokeswoman to different organizations and gearing Roosevelt up for his return to politics which would ultimately lead to one of the greatest Presidencies in history.

Three things make this such an incredibly film that it should walk away with any and all awards it is eligible for. First, the acting, the casting of this film was so brilliantly done. They are all just phenomenal. The writing, Margaret Nagle, is obviously a beautifully well spoken writer. And finally the directing, Joseph Sargent who is absolutely no stranger to directing made the most passionate film, and for Television nonetheless, I have ever seen. Kenneth Branagh, who is always an intense actor, plays Roosevelt with such feverish passion from his highest highs to his lowest lows. Granted as everyone keeps pointing out he didn't look a lot like him and his English accent was a little misplaced but his performance was so moving and so incredibly it's easily overlooked. Kathy Bates as the determined, and fevered supporter of Roosevelt's Warm Springs, is a wonderful if not slightly underused addition to the cast. She is always a brilliant actress. A real treat was Cynthia Nixon who is really only known as Miranda from Sex and The City (a show which I personally can't stand.) Cynthia Nixon instead puts across such an incredibly performance as the socially withdrawn, but dedicated and loving wife Eleanor Roosevelt, bravo to her. The rest of the supporting cast is just unbelievable. No one turns in a less than remarkable performance. Tim Nelson stands out in my mind as manager of Warm Springs and someone who becomes very close to Roosevelt, Tom Loyless. For the first time in many, many years I literally found myself in tears during a film. All in all, this movie is an absolute must see for anyone interested in political history, or just for a beautifully directed film. 10/10