Primary

A window into a single Democratic primary for the Presidential election, that of Wisconsin in 1960, featuring the "coastal elite," magnanimous John F. Kennedy, facing off against Hubert "You Betcha" Humphrey from Minnesota for the hearts and minds of voters. Through its highly informal, Cinéma Vérité style, we see them shmooze people on the streets, crack jokes in speeches, and in some moments, attempt to ensure that television appearances are choreographed. Nothing terribly profound comes out of its 53 minutes, but the benefit of history and knowing what will happen to these people and the country in the years that would follow make it an interesting watch. Elections in America often signal significant inflection points for the country, and this one was certainly one of them.

The documentary is not very deep on the actual issues or the differences between the candidates, maybe because much of the platitudes they speak in were vague, but what certainly comes through is how voters tend to back the person they perceive as best serving their own interest. Kennedy's Catholicism helps him in a Polish Catholic district in Milwaukee, but hurts him in some other places, with some voters frankly stating that's the reason they can't support him (reminding me of voters in 2020 who said they couldn't support Buttigieg because he was gay). Humphrey does well in farm country, especially those close to his home state, and he understands he must amplify this point to guys in overalls who look rather skeptical. There aren't a lot of hard-hitting questions about the intricacies of foreign policy (or any policy for that matter), but one guy shaking Humphrey's hand at the outset complains about how high his taxes have gotten.

Not to idealize it, but in light of today's politics, one can't help but observe how civilized the campaigning is, and the overall sense of decorum. The singalongs from both camps, sung to ditties like "High Hopes" get a little tiring, but are reflective of the period, and the sense of innocence that would gradually erode through Vietnam and Watergate. Meanwhile, it's hard not to smile in little moments like Humphrey coaching his wife on what to say when the camera turns on her, Jackie speaking a line of Polish she'd learned, or Bobby, initially introduced as Jack's brother, getting up to make a self-deprecating remark. For its content this is probably 7 stars, interesting but fragmentary, but I bumped it up because of the film style, and how novel that was for the time.

Primary (1960)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Historically important documentary covers the 1960 Wisconsin primary featuring Hubert Humphrey going up against John F. Kennedy. Considering what would happen over the next three years, watching this film today is pretty remarkable because you can easily see why Kennedy would eventually become president. Just watching the two candidates work just shows an old school and new school and it's not hard to see why Kennedy would eventually get in the office. It's pretty interesting watching this today because of the fact that Kennedy would be assassinated three years after all of this was shot. It's hard not to see Kennedy and that smile of his and not feel sad because no one could have known what was to follow. Director Robert Drew does a very good job at really being fair to both men as I think the documentary shows both of them in a very good and positive light. I really liked the way the film was shot as the camera is more often than not right up on the men, the people meeting them and this look really makes you feel as if you're right there by these people. There's no question that the visual style of this film would have a major impact on future films including Bob Dylan's DON'T LOOK BACK. Running just under a hour, the film manages to be highly entertaining from start to finish but even more so because we know what the final result was.

I would jump at the chance to see this one of kind look at American

Politics at the crossroads. Before the media age had turned political

campaigns into impersonal commercials, even the stars (in this case,

Kennedy and Humphrey) had to go out and press the flesh, hard.

While Kennedy is slicker and seems to have the more organized

machine behind him, he is still a saint of apprachability compared to

today's most folksie candidate. That's just how it was done before T.V.

had compleatly eaten us alive.

Some of the stuff with the affable, tireless Humphrey is

particuairly memorable. Speaking to a bunch of stone faced Wisconson

Farmers, his giddy style takes on a real comic poniency, he's like a

comic trying to loosen up Ed Gein.

Yet, you get from both candidates, yes, corny as it may sound,

they actually give a curse about the people they are talking to. If you

think that has all but vanished, as I do, you may find this film as

striking as I do. Some of the camera crew went on to "Don't Look Back"

and "Gimmie Shelter". 8 out of 10.

Primary is a 1960 Direct Cinema documentary film about the 1960 Wisconsin primary election between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey for the United States Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

Well, 1960 sure was a different time and place. But it's clear the left media fix was already in 50 years ago.

The most interesting thing in this not so interesting documentary is the scene of real people and how we lived back in a simpler time. It was truly when America was great.

Most of the cars in this movie appear to be from the '40s. And Humphrey rides around in a bus. It looks like a regular bus that you'd ride to work. Everybody seems to be wearing suits and hats and it was civil.

Why did the left ruin our country?

Filmmaker Robert Drew follows Senators Hubert H. Humphrey and John F. Kennedy as they campaign for the Wisconsin Democratic primary in the wintry start of 1960. There is limited narration. It is a cinema verite documentary. It's a lot of glad handing and chicken dinner speeches. It's the grinding daily political theater. As archival footage, this is fascinating for politics history junkies. The sound can vary in quality. There are glimpses of Jacqueline Kennedy and the rest of the Kennedy clan. There is definitely a difference in the two campaigns. While Humphrey talks to reserved farmers, Kennedy is fighting through throngs of excited people. In the end, JFK comes out ahead 2 to 1 on primary night. The last image is a straggling dusty old car with a Humphrey sticker rolling down the road.