Warm Springs (DVD, 2005)

Franklin D. Roosevelt's struggles with late onset polio after effects were largely kept out of the media from 1933-1945 during his 3 terms as US President. "Warm Springs" is an intimate drama starring renowned British actor Kenneth Branagh as FDR, Cynthia Nixon as FDR's very active & socially influential wife, Eleanor Roosevelt & US Oscar winning actor, Kathy Bates, as a physical therapist at Warm Springs, who treated & began to have remarkable results doing warm water therapy for people with polio after effects.

Warm Springs is the name of the place where FDR began swimming in order to 'cure' himself of polio after effects shortly before he became the US President. It was at first a motel with a large pool. But after its able-bodied patrons were bigoted & ignorant enough to refuse to swim with the people with polio after effects who FDR attracted to the Warm Springs pool, FDR convinced his wife & her brother to help him purchase the place & turn it into a polio treatment center.

It's a true story. One that has been kept 'under the carpet' for over half a century due to prejudices against people with disabilities. FDR believed his political career was over due to his physical limitations that prevented him from walking without much assistance. Disabilities were viewed as character weaknesses, more or less, & would certainly not be becoming for a potential US President.

The film's director, Joseph Sargent, was fortunate to have a marvelous cast, a heck of a true story & fine screenplay about the WWII & Great Depression Era US President. Kathy Bates gives a superb performance as the Warm Springs miracle worker of physical therapy. Kenneth Branagh does not disappoint as the most convincing FDR I've ever enjoyed on the screen. Cynthia Nixon, perhaps, has the toughest character to portray because the real First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was larger than life before, during & after FDR took over the Presidency. I feel she succeeds with flying colors.

In all, "Warm Springs" is a fine historical film that could interest a wide variety of audiences.

Really enjoyed learning the background of Roosevelt's polio. Showed how the effect of his having the disease put things into action that has continued to affect our country to this day. Very engrossing.