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Whistle Stopper - American Experience: FDR
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List Price: $24.99
Our Price: $13.96
Your Save: $ 11.03 ( 44% )
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Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
Starring: Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, David McCullough (II), Adolf Hitler, Geoffrey C. Ward
Directed By: David Grubin
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0841887051729
Format: Color
Label: PBS Paramount
Manufacturer: PBS Paramount
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: PBS Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-01-10
Running Time: 250
Studio: PBS Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: 1994-10-11
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: One of the nation's greatest presidents
Comment: The American Experience biography series is uneven, but when it's good it's REALLY good. This 4-hour documentary about FDR is really good.
The film explores FDR's patrician, Hudson Valley background, his lonely days at Groton, his less than stellar years at Harvard, and his early adulthood and marriage to cousin Eleanor, a time when he seems to have drifted without direction, and the ever-present influence of his mother Sarah (although the film soft-pedals the extent of her manipulativeness).
FDR seems to have found himself when he entered politics. He served an appreticeship as a NY state legislator, antagonising the political machine with his independence. He became assistant secretary of the navy, and rather churlishly did his best to undercut his very gracious and patient boss. He was a vice presidential candidate. FDR was a young man on the rise--and then polio struck.
The film points out that the several years of unsuccessful therapy and soul-searching made FDR a different man, one much more able to sympathize with the sufferings of others. (During this time, he also sunk a good deal of his personal fortune into the founding of a polio clinic at Hot Springs, Georgia). After regaining confidence and a certain amoung of mo mobility, he became the reform governor of NY and soon thereafter president.
Given the economic crisis that the world is currently going through--of which, I suspect, we've only seen the initial stages thus far--"FDR's" account of Roosevelt's struggle to do something about the Great Depression is especially interesting and timely. FDR, like so many of his patrician friends, had always thought that the market ought to correct itself without governmental "interference." But he soon dropped this notion--thereby enraging the oligarchs whose business practices had helped collapse the economy--and instigated New Deal programs in the form of the NRA--the National Recovery Administration.
One of the weaknesses of this otherwise good film is its failure to give any account of why the Supreme Court began to rule that the NRA programs were unconstitutional, an attitude that led to FDR's famous and unsuccessful efforts to change the Court's membership.
The final hour of the film focuses on FDR and WWII, and is particularly in its discussion of FDR's Lend Lease strategy for getting around a Congress which refused to aid the British in the early stages of war. FDR's friendship with Churchill is also explored.
The film contains lots of fascinating clips as well as very good interviews with members of FDR's administration (all of them quite ancient now, of course), one of his nephews, Churchill's daughter, and a bevy of FDR scholars, including Doris Kearns Godwin. Well worth watching.
Four and one-half stars.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent for history project
Comment: This is a great video to watch if you're writing a paper on FDR or taking a quiz or a test.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Documentary
Comment: Enjoyed this thoroughly. The story of a great man. Between his illness and Eleanor's reports, he seemed to have developed a great compassion for others. Our country was so fortunate to have such a leader during many worldwide trials. Very well done.
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Summary: Excellent PBS production
Comment: This is the best documentary on the life both pre white house and during the presidency of FDR that I have ever seen. The bits with the presidents grandson are especially insightful.
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Summary: He'd Never Be Elected Today!
Comment: As I wrote in my review on President Truman, President Roosevelt would be un-electable today. First, because he was the dreaded 'L' word--liberal, and proud of it.
Mr. Roosevelt's private life, combined with his physical handicap, would be picked apart and criticized by such as the 'fair and balanced' news commentators now. His manipulation of the American political system at the time would be roundly condemned today. Of course, it was what America needed at that time. President Roosevelt was the first chief executive in this country to believe, and practice, that the American government had a responsibility to its citizens beyond national defense. The scope of the work he envisioned for the American government is still breathtaking today. We know now that Mr. Roosevelt introduced the practice of Presidential domination in American politics. He provided leadership when so many countries drifted into dictatorship and inaction. We know now that the most valuable resource he provided America was hope and an optimism sadly lacking in today's bickering politicians.
And that voice! Patrician, seductive, and yet able to distill complex governmental policies into terms that the average American could understand. It is instructive to listen to President Roosevelt speak, then flip to Mr. Hitler.
There has been only one President as enigmatic in his personal dealings as Mr. Roosevelt in the last century: President Nixon. However, unlike Nixon, FDR genuinely liked people and enjoyed their company, all the while hiding his true feelings and intentions.
Not a perfect man, Mr. Roosevelt was indeed the man for the times, and how fortunate we were to have him as our leader for so many years.
To young people, who only see what we elect as Presidents now, this can be a fascinating view of one of our greats. The rich documentary footage brings this long-dead leader back for us. For that, we should be grateful and supportive of this series.
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