SUNRISE AT CAMPERBELLO

US, 1960, 144 minutes, Colour.
Ralph Bellamy, Greer Garson, Hume Cronyn, Jean Hagan, Al Bunce, Tim Considine, Ann Shoemaker.
Directed by Vincent Donehue.

Sunrise at Campobello was a successful Broadway play, written by theatre and film director and writer, Dore Schary. He has adapted it for the screen, retaining so many of the scenes despite the effect of opening out of the early sequences with the Roosevelts on holidays at Campobello, and retained a great deal of the dialogue. Some of the performances seem more geared to the theatre than to the screen.

The action takes place from 1921 to 1924, Roosevelt having married Eleanor, his distant cousin, and having five children. He has been a successful lawyer, and prominent in public affairs. it was only later that his relationship with his secretary, Lucy Mercer, in 1918, came to light. (Bill Murray portrayed him in Hiyde Park on the Hudson with Laura Linney as his cousin, Daisy, with whom he had a relationship.) The film opens with the family holidaying at Campobello, a very cheerful household, the Roosevelt’s mother, with her French background, is rather dominating.

The film indicates the beginnings of Roosevelt’s infantile paralysis – polio, his collapse, the dcotor’s opinions, his losing the use of his limbs, gradually recovering strength in his arms and hands, being able to sit up, but not able to walk. Eleanor is a tower of strength during this period. Roosevelts friend, Louis Howe, is a constant visitor, despite the children not liking him and his asthmatic wheeze.

The decision is made that he will return to New York, though his mother wants him to return to their family home, Hyde Park. The film shows him busy with business interests, including oil exploration and dirigibles. Ultimately, he is interested in public office, especially with the support of Louis. Presidential candidate Al Smith hopes that Roosevelt would nominate him and the finale of the film is the discussions about the nomination, Roosevelt preparing, the braces for his legs, the distance to the podium, his son James helping him, his using crutches – and his approach to the microphone to the applause of the 1924 Democratic Convention.

After years of playing the other man, often a bit of a fool, in so many films, Ralph Bellamy had a great achievement in his stage performance and impersonation of Roosevelt. He captures the atmosphere of Roosevelt, larger-than-life despite his handicap. He won a Tony award and was Oscar-nominated. Greer Garson is Eleanor Roosevelt who also received an Oscar nomination, but had not been in films for several years, was to make The Singing Nun and The Happiest Millionaire in the 1960s and some television work later. Hume Cronyn is Louis Howe, Ann Shoemaker dominating as Roosevelt’s mother and Jean Hagan is the private secretary, Missie.

The film is quite long, directed by Vincent Donehue (Lonelyhearts, The Young Philadelphians) and made in the lavish style at Warner Brothers at this period.

1. The status of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt? At the time, Roosevelt as President, during World War II? Later revelations about his private life? The Roosevelt heritage?

2. The film based on the play, from the late 1950s, popular, awards? The peak of Ralph Bellamy’s career? The writer, his career in films and theatre?

3. The adaptation of the play, keeping particular scenes, the emphasis on dialogue, some acting more suitable to the stage?

4. The sequences at Campobello, the water and ocean, the sun? Interiors? New York, Hyde Park? The tone and style of 1960 filmmaking? Eleanor Roosevelt helping? The musical score?

5. The stars, the performances, impersonations, interpretations? Mrs Roosevelt, Missy, the children, Al Smith?

6. 1921, Roosevelt as a personality, his career, marriage, the dominance of his mother, love for his children? Reliance on Eleanor? His ambitions, self-confidence?

7. Eleanor Roosevelt, reputation, appearance, manner, voice, at home, in her campaign speeches? Love, wife, mother? Strong on discipline? The relationship with her mother-in-law? With her children?

8. The picture of the children, their advice on the film? The ages, at home, holiday, swimming, love for their parents, the play reading, their being protected, especially from their father’s illness?

9. The family, Edward, the shopping, Marie at home, French? Missy and her role as private secretary?

10. Mrs Roosevelt, French, imposing, expectations of her son, dominating people, the French background? Assuming her influence as Franklin’s mother? With the children? Her interference, wanting her son to retire and live at Hyde Park?

11. Roosevelt and his pain, the collapse, infantile paralysis – polio? The doctors, confined to bed, the weakness of his muscles, Louis and the massage? The weeks passing, the doctors’ opinions? Roosevelt accepting his situation, getting impatient, with people moving up and down? Cheerful, the help from Eleanor, Louis, with his mother? Reliance on Missy – the criticising her at one stage? The issue of his walking, prognostic, his having to cope, gaining greater strength, the scene of his crawling and going up the stairs?

12. The decision to return to New York, the elaborate carrying him on the boat, the train, avoiding the public?

13. Life in New York, Louis ever present, the strong friendship, his reliance on Eleanor, his mother’s presence? Louis, advice, the asthma? Roosevelt and his work, schemes, the plans about dirigibles, money, oil? The love for politics?

14. The details of his work, writing, managing Hyde Park, supported by Missy, the visitors – especially the politician wanting his condemnation of Al Smith? His strong speech supporting him, the issue of Catholicism? Getting his speech distributed?

15. Al Smith, Governor, his supporters, the death of his manager, getting advice about his nomination, deciding who to make the nomination, his visit to the house, Louis and Roosevelt pretending to be surprised? The talk with Al Smith, the drink, his way of bringing up the subject, Roosevelt and his circumspect responses?

16. The finale with the Democratic Convention, Roosevelt and his preparation, support of Eleanor, Louis and the speech, the braces on his legs, the distance to walk to the microphone, with James, arriving, discussions about his speech and the ending, Eleanor disagreeing, his mother’s support? The entry, the acclaim, the visuals of the Convention, his legs, the crutches, moving to the microphone, the applause?

17. The film seen in the retrospect of his success in his life, in his presidency?