** boys clothing depictions in movies: Sunrise at Campobello








Sunrise at Campobello (United States, 1960)


Figure 1.--FDR and is family is seen here in a studio publicity shot from "Sunrise at Campobello". This is a studio news release showing the cast prior to filming. Notice the scotty. As president FDR had a scotty named Falla who appears in a scupulture next to the presidnt at the Roosevelt Memorial in washington, D.C.

Excellent screen version of the acclaimed play which introduces Franklin Roosevelt as the active head of a young, active family. Roosevelt had been the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1920. He was widely seen as a probable future presidential candidate. The plot begins on Campobello Island where FDR as a small child spent his summers. It was hear after a swi that he contracted polio. The film focusses on the personal difficulties that a vigorous man like Rossevelt had in adjusting to be an invalid. One of the main chrcters is Louis Howe who played a major role in advising both Franklin and Elenor. He tells Roosevelt that he has but two choices, to become a "country squire" and write books, or to get up and get back into politics. Franklin's mother Sarah, who was extremely protective of her only child as a boy, urges him to withdraw from public life. Elenor who had a difficult time with Sarah encourages him to renter politics. We watch Roosevelt come to term with his diability and slowly fashion his political combeack. No other disabled person had ever before able to win an important American election. This is the story of President Franklin Delano. The story culminates with FDR nominating New York govemor Al Smith at the Democratic Convention in 1928, the famed Happy Warrior speech. This brought him back into the political mainstream and wa a factor in his nominaion to run in the race for New York govenor. Very well-done production, although the main characters are a little too simply drawn. There are several brief scenes, with the kids togged out in shorts and knickers, sometimes with knee socks. The youngest wears a little Scottish cap. The Stars were Ralph Bellamy as FDR and Greer Garson as Eleanor.

Capobello Island

Capobello Island is a beautiful wooded island located in Canada's Bay of Fundy which experience the highest tides in the world. Itwas here in the 1880s that James Roosevelt following the example of friends bought land for a summer ome. Anf it was here that the young Frnklin Rossevelt spent his summers and learned to sail. It was here that Frnlin brought Elenor and his children to enjoy the same childhoos experiences. There are wonderful natural treasures, flowing fields, dense forests, tidal marshes, mud flats, and stoney headlands.

There is now a park located on Campobello Island in recognition of the time that Franllin and Elenor spenbt on the island and the importance in shaping his character. The park is the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission. It was established in 1964 by the United Strates and Canada. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson signed the agreement. The Park authories explain, "Both governments recognized the important role Franklin D. Roosevelt had played in their mutual histories and the many intimate associations of President Roosevelt with his summer home on Campobello. Within the 1,134-hectare (2,800 acre) Roosevelt Campobello International Park are the cottage and the grounds where Franklin Roosevelt vacationed and the woods, bogs, and beaches where he tramped. Just offshore are the waters where he sailed and relaxed."

Filmology

"Sunrise" is a fine film, dating from a time when public trust in government and admiration for various leaders was still high. Hollywood producer Dore Schary wrote this acclaimed Tony-winning play. Excellent screen version of the acclaimed play which introduces Franklin Roosevelt as the active head of a young, active family. It depicts the beginning of Roosevelt's lifelong struggle with polio . The film is notable as the first movie appearance in 5 years by Greer Garson, who was one of the most important Hollywood stars of the 1940s. After this performance, Garson only made one more film a few TV movies. Garson's performance was well received, certainly one of the most memorable depictions of Elenor. She received a Golden Globe for the Best Actress in a drama. It was directed by Vincent J. Donehue and produced by Dore Schary.

Franlin Roosevelt

Roosevelt had been the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate in 1920. He was widely seen as a probable future presidential candidate. Roosevelt was the most importnt president of the 20th century. He played a critical role in two of the three great challenges faced by the United States in the 20th century--the Depression and World War II.

Cast

Very well-done production, although the main characters are a little too simply drawn. The Stars were Ralph Bellamy as FDR and Greer Garson as Eleanor. One of the main characters is Louis Howe played by Hume Cronyn. The children were played by: Robin Warga (Franklin Jr.), Tim Considine (James), Zina Bethune (Anna), Pat Close (Elliot), and Tommy Carty (Johnny). Tim Considine wnt on to become a Disney regular, including "Spin and Marty".

Plot

The plot begins on Campobello Island where FDR as a small child spent his summers. It was hear after a swi that he contracted polio. The film focusses on the personal difficulties that a vigorous man like Rossevelt had in adjusting to be an invalid. One of the main chrcters is Louis Howe who played a major role in advising both Franklin and Elenor. He tells Roosevelt that he has but two choices, to become a "country squire" and write books, or to get up and get back into politics. Franklin's mother Sarah, who was extremely protective of her only child as a boy, urges him to withdraw from public life. Elenor who had a difficult time with Sarah encourages him to reenter politics. We watch Roosevelt come to term with his diability and slowly fashion his political comeback. No other disabled person had ever before able to win an important American election. This is the story of President Franklin Delano. The story culminates with FDR nominating New York govemor Al Smith at the Democratic Convention in 1928, the famed Happy Warrior speech. This brought him back into the political mainstream and was a factor in his nominaion to run in the race for New York govenor.

Although the movie deals with FDR before his election as president in 1932, it addresses the central question of his presidency--how id a man of his class became the principal spokesman for the underprivlidged in American history. Young Franlin was a pampered son of a rural squire. He was carfully protected by his mother and educated by governesses and tutors until at age 13 he entered the exclusive Groton prepatory school. (An American prparatory school is a secondary school like an English public school.) Many in Roosevelt's circustances, like jis half brother James, became dilantantes and lived off the family money. Others became conservative polticians, judges, and business leaders who sought to maintain class privliges. The play and film seeks to understand how such a privlidged boy became so sympathetic for the underprividged in America. He must learn patience. The amswer offered is that his severe disability taught him patience, humility, and compassion. In one scene, Franklin tells Eleanor "I turned to my faith, Babs -- for strength to endure. I feel I have to go through the fire for some reason. Eleanor, it's a hard way to learn humility--but I've learned it by crawling. I know what is meant -- you must learn to crawl before you can walk." Eleanor herself must learn, too. She has to overcome her shyness to become his eyes and ears, giving speeches and meeting people."

Costuming

The early scenes in the film portray the Roosevelt children as active and high-spirited. The boys' costumes reflected an upper class background in the early 1920s. There are several brief scenes, with the kids togged out in shorts and knickers, sometimes with knee socks. The youngest wears a little Scottish cap. Some of the costumes including short pants, knickers, and sailor suits are seen on the image here (figure 1). Notice that in the image here that Ana also wears a sailor outfit. In one scene, after a day of boating, the family dressed for dinner and the evening activities. At least two of the boys dressed in identical outfits of white, short-sleeved shirts, dark blue sweater vest, khaki short pants, and dark blue knee socks with dark shoes. Later in the film, the boys dressed up in suits from this era.







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Created: March 23, 2003
Last updated: March 24, 2003