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THE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT STORY (1965)
Directed by: Richard Kaplan.
Produced by: Sidney Glazier.
Written by: Archibald Macleish.
Edited by: Miriam Arsham.
Music by: Ezra Laderman.
Released by: Kino.
Country of Origin: USA. 90 min. Not Rated.
Narrated by Eric Sevareid, Archibald Macleish & Roosevelt cousin Frances Cole.

Richard Kaplan's documentary on the remarkable life of the celebrated first lady, the most influencial woman of her era, might seem more than a bit reverential by today's scandal-seeking standards. It is even more surprising to learn The Eleanor Roosevelt Story was named Best Picture of 1965 by the National Board of Review (in a year that included The Sound of Music, Darling and Ship of Fools, among other heavy-hitter titles).

Using rare newsreel footage, personal photographs and a rich tapestry of interviews, the film traces Mrs. Roosevelt's emergence from an awkward and lonely youth to the force of energy who brought her husband out of his polio-cursed sick bed and back into the political arena. In her work as first lady, she redefined the expectations and limits of this unofficial role, making her presence known throughout the country and even on the front lines during World War II. She also opened herself and the Democratic Party to an astonishing array of hostility for the open advocacy of racial equality and civil rights.

Unlike other first ladies, Mrs. Roosevelt did not fade from sight following the death of her husband. Instead, she remained a major influence within the Democratic Party and a player on the world stage, most notably for driving through the United Nations' adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Story is a rich study in emotional tenacity, political maturity and the triumph of dignity and sincerity in an arena where such traits rarely reside. For those unaware of Eleanor Roosevelt's accomplishments or those who enjoy to be reminded of her brilliance, this tribute is a joy to behold. Phil Hall
July, 19, 2004