Truman (1995)

Though considered unqualified, Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd president following the April 1945 death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writers:

David McCullough (book), Thomas Rickman (teleplay) (as Tom Rickman)

Stars:

Gary Sinise, Diana Scarwid, Richard Dysart

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 8 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 decision to use the Atomic Bomb against Japan, and subsequent election as the US' post-war President.

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Plot Keywords:

president | election | political drama | vice president | presidential election | 

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Taglines:

It Took A Farmer's Hands To Shape A Nation

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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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:

HBO Films,Spring Creek Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast includes two actors who portrayed J. Edgar Hoover in other films. Richard Dysart played Hoover in Panther (1995) while Pat Hingle played him in Citizen Cohn (1992).

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Goofs

Where General Marshall and President Truman are talking on the lawn in Potsdam, part of Marshall's lapel brass includes crossed rifles, which indicates the wearer belongs to the infantry. General officers do not have a branch of service or wear lapel brass indicating such. The Chief of Staff, however, does wear a star-shaped device on his lapels indicating his office. The Marshall character should have been wearing these.

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Quotes

[Upon taking the presidential office after Roosevelt's unexpected death]
Harry S. Truman: I don't know if any of you have had a bale of hay fall on you. Well, I feel like the sun, the stars and all the planets just fell on me. Don't expect too much of me.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar/Magic in the Water/The Innocent/Last of the Dogmen/Truman (1995)

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Soundtracks

Missouri Waltz
by J.R. Shannon (as James R. Shannon) and Frederick Knight Logan
Published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc.

User Reviews

A Little Touch of Harry . . .

In 1963 I was about to leave a graduate program in political science at Cornell to return to California and enter law school. In an attempt to get me to come back to Ithaca, my faculty adviser, Clinton Rossiter, suggested that on the way home I pass through Independence, Missouri, and spend some time at the Truman Library, on Cornell's dime. "Why don't you write the President?" said Rossiter. I did, and by return mail got a letter from Mr.Truman, inviting me to come on down. I ended up spending a couple of weeks, and aside from some formal interviews with the man, I saw and talked to him every day---it was his custom to wander through the research stacks and sit down with anyone there, to suggest what materials might be most helpful, and generally to shoot the breeze. He was in his element as a former President, and extremely generous and kind to this then 22 year old "scholar."

Gary Sinise appeared this summer at a symposium at California State University Fresno and, I am told, said that he considered "Truman" to be his best work. Based on my experience years ago, I'd say that Sinise was at the top of his game in his portrayal. He captured the man absolutely; looks, speech, mannerisms. The film is ambitious in historical scope, perhaps too much so, but for anyone who wants to experience what Truman was like in person, this is a film to watch.