 |  | An overlooked masterpiece |  |
I was just a kid when this TV movie originally aired but it made an enormous impression on me. The acting was absolutely first rate, the sets well done and the music unforgettable. For years I looked for it on VHS format and more recently, DVD. I'm overjoyed that this wonderfully underrated film is finally available on DVD. Hip Hip Hooray!
So many made-for-TV historical films are pure garbage in terms of accurate history. This movie does not make that mistake. The main characters are portrayed accurately, warts and all. Edward Herrman makes a great Roosevelt, perhaps the best fictional FDR we've ever experienced, including Ralph Bellamy. And Jane Alexander's Eleanor is flawless. She is cold, insecure and formal, yet possessing a hidden warmth and neediness exemplified by the actual Mrs. Roosevelt.
For anyone interested in Presidential history or the relationship between FDR and Eleanor, this is essential viewing. Thank God it's available again so everyone can see it.
August 2, 2006This mini-series is well worth a look. I watched this DVD after reading the Lash biography that formed the basis of the series. I found the book good but slow going: it's densely-documented and scholarly. The video version does an excellent, accurate job of dramatizing the essential events of the story.
Besides being well-told history, the series is also a pleasure to watch. The acting is great, the settings are lush, and the costuming is magnificent. The series is both good history and good entertainment. I highly recommend it.
April 22, 2006 | | Revisiting Eleanor & Franklin | |
I saw this film when it first appeared on TV and liked it so much. I was overjoyed to see it available on DVD. I felt like it really touched on the essence of Eleanor. Will watch it again.
March 13, 2006| | | Eleanor & Franklin - The Early Years | |
This series is excellent for any one that is a history fan or a fan of the Roosevelts. I thought it was wonderful as it showed the Roosevelts with all their faults. They went over them but did not show their faults glaringly but enought to know that they weren't perfect and I appreciated that. It's not like an American President is this perfect God-like person that cannot commit a sin. It was tastefully done and it showed how they overcome those troubles and became what I consider to be better people out of it. Any way, I have the VHS of this and have been eagerly waiting for the DVD to be produced. Thanks again! This one is definately worth a 5 star rating.
February 25, 2006With so much junk produced today on DVD, it is refreshing that this wonderful miniseries was finally put out on DVD. Let me begin by saying that once again Amazon got the description wrong- This is not the concluding part of the miniseries, but the first miniseries from 1976. The description talks about the second half produced in 1977! These types of mistakes can be very misleading to anyone purchasing this DVD. But, beyond that this is one of the great miniseries of the 70's. There were many great and timeless classics made during those years and this has always been at the top of my list. Jane Alexander is the perfect Eleanor and Edward Herrmann playing FDR is only second to Ralph Belamy's portrayal, but also great and very effective. What I really liked about this miniseries is that they didn't gloss over the affair between Lucy Mercer and FDR, but it was handled very honestly. All of the supporting cast makes this a must see!
September 25, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
