There are several issues that Franklin and Eleanor must face in the second part of the 1976 TV movie starring Jane Alexander and Edward Herrmann. First of all, there's the presence of her new secretary, Lucy (Linda Kelsey), quickly becoming Franklin's mistress, something that hurts Eleanor emotionally even if they don't have a marriage of passion. But they have other issues to deal with, particularly Franklin's sudden bout of polio which leaves him without the use of his legs, and it's Eleanor who is there for him (along with best friend Louis Howe, played by Ed Flanders), not Lucy. These are the years between their wedding day and the beginning of the presidency, and the writers wisely allowed everything to play out slowly. The continued presence of FDR's meddling mother (Rosemary Murphy) is another thorn in Eleanor's side.
The detail continues to be superb, taking us from the 1920s into the early 30s, and is showing continuously what an admirable and fascinating woman Eleanor was. Jane Alexander continues to be excellent, and having just had a bit of screen time in the first part, Edward Herrmann really essays the role of one of the most popular presidents ever. He's flawed but still very human and very likeable. Ed Flanders ironically would have been perfect as FDR as well, and the scenes with him and Jane discussing his character is drinking problem reveal some of her issues concerning her father and his drinking problem.
There's more screen time for Peggy McKay, Anna Lee and Helen Kleeb, and there's some wonderful moments showing black Americans rallying around the Roosevelt family after FDR's death, shown in a funeral procession at the beginning, and later when they serenade Eleanor with a spiritual. Rosemary Murphy continues to be a dominating force as his mother, and the conflict between the two formidable women chose them as completely different even if they do have Franklin's best interests at heart. Once this is over, there's the sequel from the following year, "The White House Years", so you get the full story of this wonderful relationship even with its troubles that kept them together until the end and kept her busy until long after her days as first lady were over.
The detail continues to be superb, taking us from the 1920s into the early 30s, and is showing continuously what an admirable and fascinating woman Eleanor was. Jane Alexander continues to be excellent, and having just had a bit of screen time in the first part, Edward Herrmann really essays the role of one of the most popular presidents ever. He's flawed but still very human and very likeable. Ed Flanders ironically would have been perfect as FDR as well, and the scenes with him and Jane discussing his character is drinking problem reveal some of her issues concerning her father and his drinking problem.
There's more screen time for Peggy McKay, Anna Lee and Helen Kleeb, and there's some wonderful moments showing black Americans rallying around the Roosevelt family after FDR's death, shown in a funeral procession at the beginning, and later when they serenade Eleanor with a spiritual. Rosemary Murphy continues to be a dominating force as his mother, and the conflict between the two formidable women chose them as completely different even if they do have Franklin's best interests at heart. Once this is over, there's the sequel from the following year, "The White House Years", so you get the full story of this wonderful relationship even with its troubles that kept them together until the end and kept her busy until long after her days as first lady were over.