Hyde Park on Hudson [Blu-ray]

‘Hyde Park on Hudson’ is a film purportedly about the visit of King George VI and Queen Mary to Hyde Park in the summer of 1939 just before the beginning of World War II. And, to be sure, there are scenes involving the visit, the needs for both sides in planning and presenting the visit, and on the importance of the King eating hot dogs at a picnic planned for the occasion. George and Mary are presented as insecure and, she in particular, looking for slights. But the real focus of the film is on the relationship between the President played by Bill Murray and his various women, including the newest recruit, Daisy Stuckley, a fifth or sixth cousin, played by Laura Linney. How much of this accords with historical accuracy may be a matter for debate as the film takes for granted the existence of lesbian relationships for Eleanor, multiple associations by FDR, and a complicity of aides appropriate to an Oriental potentate. FDR’s women, per the film, are better characterized as concubines seriatim rather than anything else and they all become friends and mutually support each other in their task of relieving the tension of the Great Man. This is all played deftly and with a certain amount of skill. Linney in particular manages to wring a lot of sympathy for a women who had to have been in her late forties when this liaison began and Missy Le Hand had been at it for several years. Some historians were appalled at the liberties taken with the film. Nevertheless, much of the personalities displayed accords with what we know about FDR. Although not looking much like FDR, Murray plays him brilliantly in his capacity to thwart his minders, his mother, his importuners, and anyone else who gets in the way of his plans or promotions. You get a sense of the ability of this lonely man to sum up his associates with uncanny accuracy and to know just how far they can be trusted or pushed. He also demonstrates the ruthlessness with which he discards people who are no longer of any use to him; Le Hands years in the hospital never elicited one visit from FDR who found that sickness depressed him.This is not a great film, or one with any particular insight into world politics or even human understanding, but it is a great depiction of a master politician managing his household just as he managed a nation—with an uncanny devotion to ensuring that all lines ran directly back to him and not through an emissary unless of FDR’s choosing. I don’t think FDR would have made a good friend, but he certainly made a good leader for this various times. I do wonder if he had as much introspective acuity as the film makes out, but we will never know because he never revealed anything directly. We will always see him through the eyes of others. The great biography of FDR remains yet to be written; Caro has LBJ and MacCullogh has Truman, but the biographers of FDR tend to be either by sycophants or adversaries. Even 70 years later, he is an enigma wrapped up in a riddle encased in a mystery, to paraphrase Churchill.

FDR will always be remembered as the rock from which American's drew strength to pull themselves up by their boot-straps and overcome the devastating personal losses dealt them during the Great Depression and to then build our nation's tools of war so as to join and win the fight to preserve our freedoms and those of our allies threatened by Hitler and the Japanese - winning WW2 against insurmountable odds. This film delivers a superb "stage" that replicates the time & place where FDR's personal relationships are played out congruently with the pressures of the political climate that he bore and collectively defined him as a man and beloved president. The film depicts how the people and the press of that era chose not to sit in judgment and promote his physical limitations and rumors whispered of relationships outside his marriage: a marriage in which his wife could not endure the prospect of birthing more children - withdrawing her physical relationship with him and pursuing a lesbian relationship. She continued to be his legs and right arm - traveling throughout the country connecting with the people and gathering information on their plight. He loved her for that overlooked when her own political agenda went beyond his own; and, lastly, the ever-present and unavoidable stresses of dealing with a controlling mother whose love and financial support was a double-edged sword throughout his lifetime.The film depicts how deeply he loved and cared for people. How non-judgmental he was of the personal short-comings of others and vocal in his support of their strengths. He was the voice of the masses and centered all his governing priorities on improving the circumstances of the common man. I was particularly taken with the portrayal of his ability to exude cheerfulness - to seek out the joy - however small - found in living in the moment. He would not allow all the distractions of the dire circumstances pressed upon him and those he loved to take away a measure of happiness a sunny afternoon might present. The county's strength was held together in great part by a desire to believe in his persona of moral-based values and strength of character, while choosing to place little stock in his state of declining personal health.... because he chose to ignore it himself until the very end. History remembers him not for his personal weaknesses and physical limitations but as the most beloved president who saw the nation through the most trying of times and governed with grit and optimism and governing "by and for the people".

A nice little film, the scenery is pretty and the contemporary music inspired. Considering how slight the story is I'm surprised that it attracted such a very good cast. The depiction of the British royal couple is pantomime - its a fairy story, so go with the flow.Where it loses points is for the fact that when it said it had subtitles, what it didn't say is that you can either have the film in English with Italian subtitles or the film in Italian with English subtitles. What you can't have is the film in English with English subtitles. Since I wanted to watch it with my mother (who is hard of hearing and needs the subtitles), this was a big disappointment.

Film itself is OK insomuch as - beautifully shot, hits all the history markers well at a higher level than 'Downton' etc but in the end it's a love-me- in America piece. Laura Linney is as good as ever and Olivia Colman does her 'Queen but worried' thing well with the relatively little the film affords her; if shot now post 'The Favourite' doubtless the film would have shown women in a far more inclusive and equal way, taking initative rather than adapting and offering help to existing dynamics.We enjoyed it.Loses one more star for surviving picking/packing/delivery rough handling, that meant the disc was rattling around loose in its case but luckily no damage on this occasion

This is a gentle slow story which intertwines the special relationship of Daisy, a rather dowdy distant cousin of Franklin Roosevelt with the president and how she comes to manage the realisation that he has other 'special relationships' too. This all happens very slowly, and could have been covered in about 20 minutes.The main event of the film is the visit to the USA of King George VI shortly before the outbreak of the second world war in the attempt to gain help for the upcoming war effort. The culture clash of the once mighty British Empire now rather supplicant to the new power of the United States is almost painful to watch at times, with Roosevelt, although broadly sympathetic, unable to resit a little fun at the royal family's expense - not least by introducing them to eating the least royal of delicacies - the hot dog.Pleasant enough viewing- historically interesting about the development of the Special Relationship- but slow, slow

This is another one of those DVDs which I decided to purchase because of the actor names taking part - in particular the never-disappointing Olivia Colman. Sure enough, Colman didn't disappoint, or indeed did any of the excellent leads. This film seems to be the latest in a new format - taking a slim story (apparently FDR had a series of mistresses - interesting concept, since he was paralyzed from the waist down) )and using it to create a vehicle for big stars, which will then of course bring in the viewers. I think the main point was meant to be the impact that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth had on FDR and the American people at a crucial time of decision regarding the USA's involvement in WW2, but I felt it was very much overshadowed by the President's private life. No mention was made of the speech given by the Queen to the women of America, which I understood was pivotal at the time. Whether true or not, it made me feel a bit sad that this is the way Holywood has decided to remember America's greatest President.

Quick delivery no fault of seller that this is a very silly film with dismal acting. The visit to USA of the British King and Queen before WW2 was well documented and filmed. They got along very well with the President and his wife, reportedly the President was fatherly towards the much younger man, the King. And none of the Queens noted charm comes across in this film, it could have been good, it isnt.