‘Sunrise At Campobello’ Blu-Ray Review – A Rousing & Entertaining Portrait Of FDR

He led America’s battles against the Depression and the Axis powers — and won. But first Franklin Delano Roosevelt fought a personal battle against polio that would either destroy him — or arm him for greatness. This powerful film of Dore Schary’s long-running play is an intimate, admiring profile in courage. Ralph Bellamy reprises his dynamic Tony -winning stage portrayal of the future President, and Greer Garson is his devoted, warbly-voiced wife, Eleanor. Both were uncannily true in their roles, and acclaim followed: Garson earned Golden Globe and National Board of Review Best Actress awards, as well as one of the movie’s four Oscar nominations. With exteriors filmed at Campobello and Hyde Park and interiors staged on uncanny duplications of the real-life Roosevelt homes, Sunrise at Campobello shines eloquently and movingly.

For thoughts on Sunrise at Campobello, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/_oNSi9QIWEE?si=DSt77oz1_DL6WfkR&t=1236]

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Sunrise at Campobello with a sterling new 1080p transfer that has been remastered. Warner Archive sometimes makes us struggle to find new ways to compliment them as they deliver one top tier release after another. This film is sprawling in its length, and it provides some really lovely visuals even when the film is taking place largely in interiors. The level of detail and clarity is astounding with a world of texture in the production design and articles of clothing. 

The film features some vibrant colors within the setting that leap off the screen, especially in the opening moments at Campobello. Black levels are pleasantly deep and stable throughout. The natural film grain is carefully rendered with no environments causing any problems. The film appears to be free of any dirt and damage, which provides a sort of timeless quality that is always a pleasure. There are not any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. Warner Archive is a true gem of the physical media world. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that captures this one perfectly. Dialogue comes through impeccably clear from beginning to end. The presentation balances exchanges with the energy of the familial  environments and the score with magnificent clarity. There are moments when there are an array of elements at play, but it maintains its fidelity like no other. The score from Franz Waxman is very important for conjuring emotion, and the track nails these elements beautifully. Warner Archive has provided a wonderful audio track that does not exhibit any obvious signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English SDH subtitles.

Special Features

• Theatrical Trailer: The three-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Sunrise at Campobello is a strong portrait of one of the most iconic American presidents in history. While the film does take the occasional creative liberty, the film largely sticks with the truth of the story, especially when it comes to honoring the authenticity of the emotions. Ralph Bellamy delivers an unbelievable performance as the future President, clearly showing why he was asked to continue the performance he originated on stage. Greer Garson is not a holdover from the stage, but she likewise captivates as the beloved First Lady. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray with a flawless A/V presentation but almost nothing in the way of special features. This film is a treat for any film fan. Recommended 

Sunrise at Campobello can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.