From the golden age of the American mini-series, these two entries are based on the Pulitzer prizing winning biography of the same title by Joseph P. Lash. They tell there story mostly from Eleanor's point of view, which is good because we tend to know less about her then Franklin, and to be honest I think she's probably the more interesting half of that couple. It is truly a portrait of a marriage, the historical events are of course there and well covered, but it is the relationship between these two that is the central focus. It all, as it should, feels very real, we see the course of a forty year marriage, we see it's ups and downs and can feel the changes in feelings and attitudes. The marriage is not smooth sailing, Franklin nearly ruins it with a affair in the 1910's, but they keep going, the dynamic very much altered.
There's a surprising subtlety here, and great personal performances. Edward Herrman is a good Franklin, but Jane Alexander's Eleanor is inspired, surly the fullest rendering of a first lady that I've ever seen. The first film gives you a lot of background, which fascinating, and great to have; It is an excellent piece, especially for network television. Yet as much as I liked the first I actually liked the second half more, though it wouldn't have worked half as well with out the first part. The extra context that we have for how the marriage got to where it was at the time of Franklin's inauguration is invaluable, it casts everything in a much more illuminating light. I'm also very grateful that the film didn't seem rushed, that long scene near the end with Eleanor and her daughter Anna talking about some really painfully things shortly after Franklin's passing; now that's the type of scene that is seldom allowed to play so long, but I'm very glad it did. Both films are solid, engaging, informative, and finely honed, each well worth your time.
The Early Years: B
The White House Years: B+
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