Sunrise at Campobello

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Movie
Original title Sunrise at Campobello
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1960
length 144 minutes
Rod
Director Vincent J. Donehue
script Dore Schary
production Dore Schary,
Walter Reilly
music Franz Waxman
camera Russell Harlan
cut George Boemler
occupation

Sunrise at Campobello is an American biopic about the life of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1960, starring Ralph Bellamy and Greer Garson .

action

In the summer of 1921, the aspiring US politician Franklin D. Roosevelt spent carefree months with his wife Eleanor and their five children at his summer home on Campobello Island . One evening while enjoying the sunset with Eleanor, he briefly loses control of his legs and almost falls to the ground. After his legs fail a second time when he goes to bed, a specialist examines him and diagnoses polio . However, Roosevelt does not allow himself to be dissuaded from his ambitious plans and is actively supported by his best friend and advisor Louis McHenry Howe. His mother Sara, who arrives shortly after on Campobello Island and has never liked Howe, is extremely concerned about the physical condition of her son and hopes that he will give up his political ambitions and thereby also escape Howe's influence.

The Roosevelt family home on Campobello Island , a location in the film

When Roosevelt was still bedridden at the end of the summer, the press became curious and scrambled for photos to prove his debilitated condition. To protect Roosevelt's reputation, Louis stages a deception for the departure for New York City . Roosevelt's mother, Sara, and the children leave the property first to lure the press away, while Roosevelt and Eleanor are taken to the New York City train on another boat and car. Arrived in New York City, Roosevelt was admitted to hospital for several months. Meanwhile, Louis announces to reporters that his protégé is already on the mend. After his discharge from the hospital, Roosevelt has to have greaves put on until he mounts wheels on one of his chairs and invents other things that make his everyday life easier. However, he continues to believe that one day he will be perfectly healthy again. With the help of Louis and his secretary Missy Le Hand, he maintains contact with the public and supports Woodrow Wilson's efforts to achieve world peace.

One day Louis tells him that the Democratic Party is planning to run him as a candidate for New York governor . Louis subsequently made Eleanor her husband's right-hand man politically by giving his written speeches to the public. In July 1923, the Roosevelts spent the summer in Hyde Park . Roosevelt is still unable to walk but is feeling much better physically. After her return to New York City, Eleanor also gains more and more self-confidence as the mouthpiece of her husband, while he is more determined than ever to get rid of the wheelchair and walk on crutches. He's supposed to give a grand speech at a Democratic Party rally in Madison Square Garden . To do this, however, he has to be able to stand for about 45 minutes. Together with Louis, he practices running independently and rehearses the performance down to the smallest detail. On the evening of the meeting, he is pushed into the hall in his wheelchair and walks the last ten meters on his crutches. When he reached the podium, the crowd cheered him and his political rise began, which would lead him to the US presidency in 1933.

background

Ralph Bellamy and Greer Garson (right) with Eleanor Roosevelt during filming

Sunrise at Campobello is the film adaptation of Dore Schary 's play of the same name, in which Ralph Bellamy had already appeared on Broadway as Franklin D. Roosevelt and for which he received a Tony Award in 1958 . Schary sold the film rights to Warner Brothers for $ 500,000 on the condition that he would be involved in the project as both co-producer and screenwriter. When studio boss Jack L. Warner provided Marlon Brando for the lead role, Schary insisted on Bellamy and ultimately prevailed. When it became known that Greer Garson was to play the role of Eleanor Roosevelt, Hollywood considered her a miscast, as it was agreed that Garson had no resemblance to the first lady. With the help of make-up and false teeth, Garson finally won over the critics in her role and received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for her performance .

The film was shot on location in Hyde Park, New York State and Campobello Island in New Brunswick , Canada , where the Roosevelts owned two of several residences.

Reviews

Variety attested Ralph Bellamy "a brilliant representation of Roosevelt". The film also offered Greer Garson “the first-class opportunity” to show himself from a new side. As Eleanor Roosevelt she delivered "a deeply moving, multi-layered character drawing". In view of the “sober subject”, Sunrise at Campobello proves“an amazing amount of humor”; Cronyn has “a large part” in this. Franz Waxman's music also contributed “significantly” to the film, “especially in the assembly scene”.

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times found Bellamy's portrayal of Roosevelt "just as strong, full of emotion and characteristic gestures as Bellamy showed them on stage." The close-ups of Greer Garson, "who plays the role of Eleanor Roosevelt so sweetly, but also with determination and humor", are rather "unhappy". The "false protruding teeth" with which it was equipped "make it look strange as soon as the camera comes close to it". Hume Cronyn had also shown a “brilliant performance” in this “well-made, moving film biography”. Michael Betzold of the All Movie Guide found that Greer Garson had created "an unforgettable, dignified portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt".

Awards

At the Oscar ceremony in 1961 was Sunrise at Campobello in four categories: Best Actress (Greer Garson), Best Art Direction ( Edward Carrere , George James Hopkins ), Best Costume Design ( Marjorie Best ) and Best Sound ( George Groves ) for the Oscar nominated, went on But ends up empty. In addition, the biography was nominated for Best Picture for the Golden Globe , which Greer Garson won for Best Actress . Garson was also the prize of the National Board of Review also as Best Actress Award. Director Vincent J. Donehue received a Directors Guild of America Award nomination and another at the Moscow International Film Festival .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Troyan: A Rose for Mrs. Miniver. The Life of Greer Garson . The University Press of Kentucky, 1999, p. 287.
  2. ^ "Ralph Bellamy [provides a] brilliant portrait of Roosevelt. [...] The film is also a brilliant new showcase for Greer Garson. She comes through as Eleanor Roosevelt with a deeply moving, multifaceted characterization. [...] There is, considering the sober nature of the subject, a surprising amount of humor in Campobello and a good measure of it is deftly generated by Cronyn. Franz Waxman's score makes a big contribution, notably to the convention sequence. " See Sunrise at Campobello . In: Variety . 1960.
  3. ↑ “Ralph Bellamy's performance of Mr. Roosevelt is every bit as strong, as full of feeling and characteristic gesture, as Mr. Bellamy made it on the stage […]. Close-ups are unfortunate in the case of Greer Garson, who plays the role of Eleanor Roosevelt most sweetly, and with firmness and humor, too. But someone has seen fit to equip her with a set of protruding teeth that make her look positively comic when the camera closes in. […] Add a brilliant performance by Hume Cronyn […] on a well-done, moving biographical film. " Bosley Crowther : 'Sunrise at Campobello' Opens at the Palace . In: The New York Times . September 29, 1960.
  4. ↑ "Greer Garson gave a memorable, dignified performance as Eleanor Roosevelt." Michael Betzold, cf. omovie.com