MovieChat Forums > Warm Springs (2005) Discussion > Was it really an accurate portrayal?

Was it really an accurate portrayal?


Obviously, movies will fudge around with details to make it more cinematic but I was wondering how accurate the film was regarding the overall characterizations?

For example, I've often heard about how distant and rather impersonal the Roosevelt marriage was by this point, but the film seems to portray them as very much still a "couple". Is this simply because they needed some romance in the movie? It just seems like by the 1920s, the Roosevelts were no longer at that place with each other. They each had their own thing going with other people, and he was likely still in love with Lucy Mercer. I think they could've explored that more as well as the aftermath of FDR's adultery instead of turning their marriage into a romantic fairytale. (And they failed to mention that when FDR died in Warm Springs, his ex-mistress was with him) They could've done a lot with their very complicated and messy relationship; but it just wouldn't have been as nice and sweet.

Also, it's usually said that FDR was typically very collected and rarely gave in to emotions, while the movie does give him quite a few emotional outbursts. Were these ever recorded? Or just dramatic flourishes?

reply

I found the film rather dull, so if the things you mention are closer to historical fact, then it's a shame that the film ignores them.

reply