Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

The story of the love affair between FDR and his distant cousin Margaret "Daisy" Suckley, centered around the weekend in 1939 when the King and Queen of the United Kingdom visited upstate New York.

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Richard Nelson

Stars:

Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	FDR
Laura Linney	...	Daisy
Samuel West	...	Bertie
Olivia Colman	...	Elizabeth
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Missy
Olivia Williams	...	Eleanor
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Mrs. Roosevelt
Martin McDougall	...	Tommy
Andrew Havill	...	Cameron
Eleanor Bron	...	Daisy's Aunt
Nancy Baldwin	...	Mrs. Astor
Tim Beckmann	...	President's Aide #1
Guy Paul	...	President's Aide #2
Eben Young	...	President's Aide #3
Samantha Dakin	...	Mary the Maid

Storyline

In 1930s Hudson Valley, Margaret "Daisy" Suckley is reacquainted with her distant cousin, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to help him relax at his family estate. That aid soon develops into much more as they become lovers. That puts Daisy in a unique position as Roosevelt receives the King and Queen of Britain in 1939 for a visit. As the Royal couple copes with the President's oddly plebeian arrangements, Daisy learns that there is far more to Roosevelt's life than she realized. With the world about to be set ablaze by war, friendships are struck and perspectives are gained on that special weekend that would make all the difference with a great, but very human, president.

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Plot Keywords:

king of england | president | queen | king | picnic | 

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Taglines:

One weekend. Two leaders. Many affairs.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Bill Murray is Franklin D. Roosevelt Focus Features - DVD

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Royal Weekend

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$81,362, 9 December 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,367,780, 24 March 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daybreak Pictures, Film Four, Free Range Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill Murray was already familiar with the difficulties of living with polio as his sister had suffered from the disease as a child.

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Goofs

When the King and Queen of England drive through the gates at Hyde Park, and shortly thereafter when they are received by the president, the Marine detail would have been sharply commanded to raise their rifles to the position of "present-arms"--their rifles remain at their sides the entire time.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Daisy: Back then - this is years ago - I couldn't afford secrets. I just had chores. As a child growing up, we had been rich. And then, well, we weren't. And like most people during the Depression, I now lived each day as it came no longer expecting anything. Waiting. For nothing. And then...

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Connections

Referenced in 70th Golden Globe Awards (2013)

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Soundtracks

I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
Written by Bennie Benjamin, Eddie Durham, Sol Marcus and Eddie Seiler (as Edward Saller)
Performed by The Ink Spots

User Reviews

Through one affair, one perfect friendship is formed at the beautiful Hyde Park on Hudson

In 1939, King George VI (Samuel West) and Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Colman) made the trek across the ocean to visit American President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Bill Murray) at "Hyde Park on Hudson". It was the first trip of its kind and tensions were high. First Lady Eleanor and Mother Roosevelt expected perfection, and the Queen (the eventual Queen Mother) also expected perfection. Roosevelt was in no shape to deliver perfection.

Mostly confined to a wheelchair and married to a woman he did not love, Roosevelt reportedly had affairs. The film focuses on one such affair that started just before the King and Queen of England were to arrive. Margaret "Daisy" Suckley (Laura Linney) is FDR's distant cousin and she is excited for this new turn in her life. She essentially moves into the Hyde Park residence, is convinced of Roosevelt's need for her, and won't accept a lesser role in his life. She's a tough pill to swallow and it's unfortunate that she's the main character of the film.

The best characters of the film are easily Franklin Roosevelt and Bertie (the King). Murray transforms Roosevelt into such a humanized version of the esteemed President that he's always relatable, always likable and always entertaining despite the pedestal that he's on and despite the pedestal that he probably shouldn't be on. West gives a pitch-perfect, award-deserving portrayal of the humble would-be King providing an understanding confidante for the President. Together they provide the film with an undeniable comedic chemistry and also an honest dynamic that gives it a much needed stability as it tries to find its way as a comedic, dramatic biopic.

The other women in the film, notably: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Olivia Williams), Mrs. Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth, were portrayed with a likely honest, indifferent, and distant air. That approach allows the film to make no judgements about these three strong, independent and forceful women who have all forged their way into history. We only see them through their equally strong husbands (and son) and we can form our own opinions.

True to its name, "Hyde Park on Hudson" has beautiful cinematography. While it's shot in England rather than New York, it is a suitable substitution, recognizing the source of the inspiration for the name, the architecture and the landscaping of the Presidential family estate in upstate New York.