This is a film that only Joseph Sargent could have directed. Mr. Sargent's work has been basically seen on television. This HBO film deals directly with Franklin D. Roosevelt's battle with polio. As written by Margaret Nagle, the film is rewarding in that one sees an aspect of this great man in human terms.

Mr. Roosevelt was a man that came from wealth and privilege. The Roosevelts and the Delanos were involved in politics most of their lives. When we first meet F.D.R. and his family, we find then living under the influence of his bossy mother, Sara Delano. His wife Eleanor is no fool, she soon realizes her husband is having affairs with other women. Eleanor's mother-in-law quickly takes command of things as she reminds the younger woman that some great men have mistresses outside the home, but that it shouldn't be a cause for a divorce, something that wouldn't have been Franklin's political death, at the time.

We watch in horror how Mr. Roosevelt is stricken with polio. In spite of his political savvy, Franklin is not ready to accept what has befallen him. With the reluctant aid of Eleanor, he answers an invitation to go to rural Georgia, to Warm Springs, where the owner has written him, some progress has been seen on people with suffering polio.

Warm Springs is more backward than what the Roosevelts expected. Franklin is determined to make a go of it. Helped by Tom Loyless, the man in charge of the springs, Mr. Roosevelt begins to see some progress. At the same time, he and other polio sufferers, are the target of some disdain and bigotry by people that have used Warm Springs for other afflictions. The arrival of a physical therapist, Helena Mahoney, works wonders for Franklin and the patients staying in the spa. Mr. Roosevelt ends up buying the place and turns it into a treatment center for people with polio.

We also watch how Eleanor, guided by the Roosevelt's loyal friend, Louis Howe, gets her involved in the political arena. She champions the cause for women to get into social issues, something she would pursue until the end of her days. Mrs. Roosevelt rises to the occasion when Franklin is taught how to walk and in an emotional finale, we see him appearing before a Democratic convention. Ironically, he would be elected on the next election and win three other terms as president of the country, in spite of his physical condition, that took a back seat to the reality of running the country.

If anyone seems to have been born to play Franklin Roosevelt, it is Kenneth Branagh. This actor bears an uncanny resemblance with the younger Roosevelt. Mr. Branagh makes an excellent characterization of the iconic man that still cast a strong shadow with the legacy he left behind. As Eleanor, Cynthia Nixon, is equally Mr. Branagh's match. With a prosthesis to change the look of her teeth, Ms. Nixon is extremely appealing as Mrs. Roosevelt.

The supporting players do amazing performances. Tim Blake Nelson who plays the kind Tom Loyless is a joy to watch, as in everything this actor does. David Paymer is the loyal friend Louis Howe. Kathy Bates is Ms. Mahoney, the therapist that is instrumental in teaching F.D.R. how to walk. Jane Alexander is also good as Sara Delano, a woman with an iron will.

"Warm Springs" takes us into the life of the man who battled infirmity with an amazing courage. Joseph Sargent is to be commended for his direction and the way he got good acting all around from his distinguished cast.

This is worth seeing. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, stricken early in his career by polio, discovers Warm Springs, Georgia, a dumpy sort of summer resort with a swimming pool loaded with hot mineral waters. Is it a "cure"? He decides to find out.

It covers some of the same ground as "Sunrise at Campobello," but it's not so schematically written. (Campobello was first a play.) This film is darker and damper, and more socially sensitive, giving time to the still-segregated black attendants and to the other, equally disabled patrons of the place.

In one scene, Kenneth Branaugh, as Roosevelt, gives a graduation speech to the students and their parents at the local one-room schoolhouse. The period, the late 1920s and early 1930s, is precisely evoked by the crew. A handful of raggedy kids and uncomprehending rural mothers and fathers sit in the dreary little place and listen politely as the former governor of New York tries to go on about HIS education and how it led to public life -- you know, Groton ("my high school"),Harvard, Columbia Law. Yes, the highest calling is a political career he tells these people who are wondering where their next chicken leg might come from. His hand begins to shake as he plunges on and realizes the utter absurdity of the situation, and later he remarks, "I've given many public speeches. I don't know why this one bothered me so much." In many ways it's the most successful scene in the film -- far better than the one in which a disabled young girl in braces struggles to her feet and manages to hobble over to him while a thousand and one violins throb in the background. Where have we seen THAT before? It's more grounded than "Sunrise at Campobello" but it has a similar structure. A few minor triumphs followed by heart-breaking defeats, and ending with Roosevelt's introduction of Smith at the Democratic convention, standing on his own two feet.

What puts it over, I think, is Kenneth Branaugh's performance as FDR. Gee, he's good. It's easy to do an impression of Roosevelt. Ralph Bellamy gave a decent impression in Campobello. But Branaugh doesn't take the easy path of simply mimicking FDR's aristocratic speech patterns -- "I hate WAW and so does EleaNAW!" It's quieter, more nuanced, and better than any of his Shakespearian characters. He squeezes everything possible out of a script that sometimes lapses into the strictly conventional.

It's a chronicle of the times, too. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, four-term president of the United States. It wouldn't happen today. He'd never get near the presidency. The press would be all over him and his wheelchair. We live in such tolerant and enlightened times now. And if he ever WERE elected, his women companions -- not to mention Eleanor's woman companion -- would be tabloid fodder and he'd be impeached and maybe lynched. And we'd all have missed that little touch of Franklin in the night.

This agreeable film deals with Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (Kenneth Branagh) life , previously his presidential nomination for Democratic party . While serving in the Wilson administration , began having an affair with Lucy Mercer , his wife Eleanor's secretary . Deeply wounded when she discovers his betrayal , Eleanor (Cythia Nixon) nonetheless stays together Franklin . And she would be at his side when in a scouts camp with their five children , he was sticked with polio and paralyzed at 39 years of age , then he's handicapped and wheelchair bounded . But Franklin looks for a miracle cure in a run-down Health-Spa called 'Warm Springs' (managed by Tim Blake Nelson) with mineral swimming pool and located in the backwoods of Giorgia . Newspapers publicize : Roosevelt will swim to health and then people come to place . Meanwhile , the wife speaks to league of voters women , and Eleanor touchingly admits , she'll never be any good at public speaking , however she is all right in the speech . Later on , Franklin and Eleanor go to the Academy of Medicine where convince the doctors about the polio cure into mineral swimming pool .

This is an enjoyable drama filmed on real location about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt overcoming profound difficulties in their marriage and his fight against the polio paralysis . It's a touching love story as well as the obstinate rehabilitation of a big man . Excellent casting with a magnificent starring couple , Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon . Good secondary cast cast formed by David Paymer , Tim Blake Nelson , Kathy Bates , Matt O'Leary and Jane Alexander as the overprotective mother , she formerly starred as Eleonora Roosevelt in TV film titled 'The White House years(1976)' directed by Daniel Petrie . The motion picture was professionally directed by Joseph Sargent . He's a expert on biography and historical events expert , as he proved in 'Mandela and Clerk' , 'Abraham , 'McArthur' , 'When the lions roared' which reunited to Stalin , Churchill and again Roosevelt (John Lightow),'Day one' with Oppenheimer and General General Groves ; his best movie resulted to be 'Taking of Pelham one , two , three' . This is an engaging drama made at the better for its historic resonance and will appeal to Kenneth Branagh fans.