NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

dweilermg-1 * A minor detail perhaps but while Sunrise at Campobello (1960) is indeed a great movie I felt that Greer Garson was just too lovely for the role of Eleanor Roosevelt. Despite being a great actress she was an unrealistic choice for that role. A homelier actress such as Mary Wickes or Kathleen Freeman might have been more ideal for that role.

Steven Torrey It is easy to look at politics and politicians as an exercise in skulduggery; like Sarah Roosevelt, the politician just a little above the garbage collector.This movie documents FDR's affliction with what was surmised than as infantile paralysis, at the relatively young age of 39; a paralysis that left him incapacitated for the rest of his life. It ends in 1924 when he walks using braces and crutches to the podium to nominate Al Smith as Democratic Presidential Candidate.But the film shows Roosevelt not only battling his handicap, but battling his mother, battling his family, battling Louis Howe, battling the politicians--the film shows a strong willed person standing up to anyone who looked at him as 'handicapped'. It is that strong will that led to the Governorship of New York in 1928 and to the Presidency in 1932.I saw the movie when it came out in 1960, was impressed then, and am still impressed. it caught the family dynamic pretty much as it was reported in various books about Roosevelt. His mother was domineering, Mrs. Roosevelt tolerated her but barely. Louis Howe (excellently portrayed by Hume Cronyn) was looked on as something of a charlatan by both Eleanor and Sarah. But most importantly it caught that intangible something that goes into the making of a politician who is expected to lead the nation, and not let the nation wallow in self-destructive behavior.Many years later, after this event, when Roosevelt was President, still in the early stages of the Great Depression, Roosevelt made the assertion that something had to be done or there would be no democracy. (Paraphrasing roughly) When Roosevelt said in his first Inaugural address, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" he went on to mention the fear as something that paralyzes people... Roosevelt knew what he was talking about re the metaphysics of paralysis. And the nation knew what he was talking about re the metaphysics of paralysis because the President and the Nation had been there.There are those who say that Roosevelt gained a human touch as a result of his paralysis and that made him a successful politician able to create practical solutions to real problems. In 1960 Kennedy became President. Much later, his brother made the assertion: "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" That quote is in the progressive tradition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

jjnxn-1 Good old fashioned biography of FDR's struggle against polio and his journey back to the political arena. Good supporting performances and a handsome production add luster to this. The real strength of this is in the performances of the lead pair. Greer Garson as Eleanor does a terrific approximation of that great lady, people have mentioned that her teeth are distracting but Mrs.Roosevelt did have large teeth and an overbite so kudos to the studio for remaining true to the actual woman. She was still alive when this came out so the audiences of the time were well aware of her appearance. It's only a surface characteristic anyway and Garson portrayal goes much deeper giving a fine account of the future first lady. However it's Ralph Bellamy in the best role he ever had as FDR that walks away with top acting honors. Having performed the role on stage he has perfected it to a fine point and richly deserved the Oscar nomination he received. He conveys both FDR's weariness as well as the strength required to bounce back from the blow polio dealt him.Beautifully appointed this is studio film making at its best. Wonderful ending.

harry-76 "Sunrise at Campobello" enacts early events in the personal life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt with fine production values, including solid performances.Certainly both Ralph Bellamy and Greer Garson had their work cut out playing, respectively, Franklin and Eleanor. They got their characterizations down pat, and their work is of a high calibre. The talented supporting cast is headed by Hume Cronyn as Franklin's best friend and Ann Shoemaker as his doting mother. Jean Hagen is seen as a good-natured secretary.It may be that Dore Schary's script from his play was too lengthy, or that Vincent J. Donahue's direction was too slow. Whatever the case, running at 144 minutes this seems a pretty long haul for the average viewer. Bellamy's work is consistently exectued, with all of the famous FDR mannerisms--it is also slowly-paced. Garson's Eleanor captures her distinctivly slow, deliberate speech cadence. Likewise, both principals' makeups are subtely effective.The script begins in 1921 when Franklin was 40 and wisely ends just three years later with his politically important nominating speech for Al Smith. While there may be some dramatic modifications of factual material, the basic flavor of the period and characters are well handled.Fraklin's overcoming of physical adversity to become a four term US president is a story of great interest, from both a human and professional perspective. "Sunrise at Campolbello" skillfully presents this inspired period of American history.