During the last few minutes of Warm Springs, at the Democratic convention, FDR is being carried up the stairs and a photographer takes a photo. A secruity person takes the photo away but the movie made a point of putting it in the movie because it pauses as the photo is taken. Did this really happen, if so was the photo later developed? I am curious as if this is something the screenwriter put in or really happened. Thanks.
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Thanks for the info, if anyone learns more please keep me filled in. Go Navy!
"look at what this mut did to my shoes"-Jimmy Conway, Goodfellas
The scene was messed up when it was shot. In truth and as it was written in the script... it was a fellow photographer who ripped the film out of another photographers camera who had taken the photo. Photographers had heard rumors about FDR's real physical condition and had tried to ambush him. They actually did see him being carried by his valet and were quite stunned. When one of the photographers snapped a shot they all jumped on him and yanked the film from his camera. The most respected of the group reportedly said. "Either we all take the picture... or none of us takes the picture." That scene was in the movie but the day it was to be shot they ran out of time. The screenwriter was not there and the producer and director made up this modified scene.
Fred Botts really did get put in the baggage car. When he arrived at Warm Springs he was very ill.
There was a similar scene in ELEANOR & FRANKLIN, too.
It is historical fact that the press -in an unusual gesture of deference and restraint- refrained from photographing Roosevelt being carried, lifted, assisted or actually using his wheelchair. Similarly, there are virtually no references to such activities in any of the radio or print news, either.
It was, therefore, extremely shocking (and a revelation to many, I'm sure) when, upon his return from the final Yalta conference in 1945, FDR addressed Congress -sitting down- and saying "I hope you excuse my unusual posture of sitting down during the presentation of what I want to say..."
He went on to say that he had just completed a trip of several thousand miles and it was easier for him "...not having to carry 40 pounds of steel 'round on the bottom of my legs."
It was probably the only public mention FDR ever made of his infirmity.
Finally, as far as I've ever been able to determine there is only one photograph in existence of FDR actually sitting in his wheelchair.
"If you don't know the answer -change the question."