Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years

TV Movie
1977
2h 35m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

350

YOUR RATING

Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977)

Biography Drama

The story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during their 12-year stay at the White House.The story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during their 12-year stay at the White House.The story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during their 12-year stay at the White House.

Director
- Daniel Petrie
Writers
- James Costigan
- Joseph P. Lash
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

350

YOUR RATING

Director
- Daniel Petrie
Writers
- James Costigan
- Joseph P. Lash
Stars

5User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 7 Primetime Emmys
- 10 wins & 10 nominations total

Photos

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Mimi Cozzens's debut.

Goofs
In the opening, set in 1905, when a horse carriage enters the White House drive, modern automobiles are visible across the park.

Quotes
Franklin D. Roosevelt: It's not unusual for a father to want to take his eldest son into the family business.
Eleanor Roosevelt: But you're not in business. A President who hires his own son is open to every sort of charge of playing favourites. And they'll make the son's life a hell. He'll be accused of the same thing - of giving favours - and worse, of selling them. Opportunists will woe him and use him and then make a joke of him behind his back.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: I don't see why I should be deprived of the boy's help or the pleasure of having him with me, just because I'm the President.
Eleanor Roosevelt: Is that the only consideration, your pleasure? How very selfish. Have you given any thought of what this would do to Jimmy? All the criticism, the gossip and malice and spite?

Connections
Featured in The 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1977)

User reviews5

Review

Featured review

10/10

Very Affecting View of History

I am a fan of this period of US history, so I should state that at the outset. This was, for me, a very touching and intimate view of the closest thing the US ever had to a royal family. The period elements were wonderful and I even enjoyed the faux Andrews Sisters at one of the White House parties.

Perhaps the reason why this elegant work got to me is that this was a portrait of a time when this country lost its youth -- literally and figuratively. I remember my father, who was in the Army Signal Corps during WWII, telling me that the only thing he wanted back from "those days" was his youth. We who view it as history tend to romanticize the times and events. It must have been hell for those who lived it, though.

The treatment of the funeral train and procession was particularly poignant for me. I heard from my parents how sad that time was.