“Hyde Park on Hudson” – movie review

           Am I the last person on earth to learn that Franklin Roosevelt had an affair with his cousin, Daisy? Call me naïve. Call me uninterested. Of all the things Roosevelt did during his presidential reign, this is the last bit of trivia that I’d be curious about knowing more. I guess he had numerous affairs with female staffers as well.

          “Hyde Park on Hudson” staring Bill Murray as FDR and Laura Linney as Daisy, his sixth cousin, highlights one weekend in June, 1939, when the President hosts the King and Queen of England at his country home in upstate New York.

          War with Germany was imminent for Great Britain and America’s support was desperately needed; thus this first ever visit by a reigning British monarch to Hyde Park on Hudson. The international situation was melded in and overshadowed by FDR’s relationships with Daisy, his mother and other mistresses. The uncomfortable interactions and lack of warmth of the royals was well depicted

          It wouldn’t occur to me to cast Bill Murray in this role but his performance was plausible. I really know little about FDR personally so my assessment isn’t necessarily credible. It seemed impressive that the slapstick comic could play such a far flung opposite sort of character. Sure, I liked the period scenery, costumes and props, and the flow of this weekend in focus was well staged and easy to follow.

          Bottom line for me, however, I’m not sure I wanted this view of FDR, the political titan, and I couldn’t judge the performances beyond this feeling.

Two out of possible five ticket stubs