Award-Winning Film Director Ken Burns Discusses His New Documentary “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History”
THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY follows the family’s story from Theodore’s birth in 1858 to Eleanor’s death in 1962. Legendary actress MERYL STREEP portrays Eleanor Roosevelt in readings from her personal letters and writings.
Joining Streep is PAUL GIAMATTI as the voice of Theodore Roosevelt and EDWARD HERRMAN, as the voice of FDR.
Rounding out the cast are Patricia Clarkson, Adam Arkin, Philip Bosco, Keith Carradine, Kevin Conway, Ed Harris, John Lithgow, Billy Bob Thornton, Josh Lucas, Carl Lumbly, Amy Madigan, Carolyn McCormick, Pamela Reed and Eli Wallach in what Burns calls, “some of the finest voice-over work” to date.
KEN BURNS: “Beyond simply sharing a bloodline or political success, Eleanor, Franklin and Theodore each shared a passionate belief that America is at its strongest when everyone has an equal chance. And on a personal level, they each struggled to overcome their own fears while maintaining a public face of courage.”
For the first time in history, a film looks at the most influential family in American politics and tells the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in a single narrative.
This historic series encompasses all the history the famous family helped to make from the creation of National Parks, Digging of the Panama Canal, The New Deal, The Defeat of Hitler, and The Postwar Struggles for Civil Rights at Home.
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is a seven-part, 14-hour series airing on PBS from September 14 to 20, 2014 at 8/7C each night. It is written by Geoffrey C. Ward, produced by Paul Barnes, Pam Tubridy Baucom and Ken Burns.
