Joe's Revenge (3 Apr. 2011)

The Kennedys rally to put Jack in the White House but their difficult past illuminates a deeper struggle.

Director:

Jon Cassar

Writer:

Stephen Kronish

Stars:

Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Katie Holmes

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Greg Kinnear	...	Jack Kennedy
Barry Pepper	...	Bobby Kennedy
Katie Holmes	...	Jackie Kennedy
Tom Wilkinson	...	Joe Kennedy Sr.
Diana Hardcastle	...	Rose Kennedy
Kristin Booth	...	Ethel Kennedy
Rachel Wilson	...	Michelle
John White	...	Young Jack Kennedy
Gabriel Hogan	...	Joe Kennedy Jr.
Kristin Adams	...	Cynthia
Ava Preston	...	Caroline Kennedy
John Boylan	...	Bishop Richard Cushing
Elodie Gillett	...	English Secretary
Rick Braggins	...	Father O'Byrne
Thomas Mitchell	...	Naval Officer

Storyline

At JFK's presidential election, the family reminisces how the political dynasty started. Self-made tycoon Joseph Senior became ambassador under Roosevelt, but wrecked his career with a speech that could be read as sympathetic to Hitler. So he transferred his ambition to his sons. especially for Robert, that means sacrificing some of his own.

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Plot Keywords:

father son relationship | brother brother relationship | loyalty | appeasement | american ambassador | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 2011 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Asylum Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Goofs

When JFK leaves to take command of the PT 109 he is shown in uniform as a full Lieutenant. JFK was actually a LTJG at the time.

User Reviews

Fathers & Public Image

First of all, the performances are outstanding, and the history is very interesting to me. I can't measure the accuracy of the accounts told in this first episode (I could assume that it is very well told, but that would probably be sloppy academics).

This story depicts the complexity of emotions being in a powerful family with a father (Joe Kennedy, Sr) who wants to be President (or wants one of his sons to be). It's yet to be seen how that obsession effects his family, but I would think it would be very emotionally damaging. The obsession is always driven by their public image. "What do people think of me?", "Does my relationship with this person damage my chances?", "How dare this person say this? That destroys my image!"

Maybe that's still what the political world is, and in an election year I see that with the many conservative candidates scratching to be able to face Barak Obama. Image is everything when you want people's votes, but at the same time it's such a surface part of the candidate. Is it really the real candidate? While the office of US President is vitally important, should we not "be ourselves" if people vote for us or not? Jackie Kennedy's lines in this first episode to the reporters is that Jack Kennedy is the same person on the camera as he is off the camera. That can be an 'image line' all in itself, but I wonder if that was actually true. What if we had a President who wasn't a people pleaser to get votes, but a man who did the right thing no matter what? Was that JFK? Was that any of our Presidents? Is there a value at all in worrying about public image? Politics only leaves me with questions, not defined answers.

I'm looking forward to watching the rest of this miniseries. I have a feeling that I'm going to learn a great deal.