Program Notes

Franz Waxman composed the musical score for Sunrise at Campobello (Warner Brothers, 1960), the film version of the hit Broadway play that dramatized Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s struggle to overcome polio; Ralph Bellamy recreated his Tony award-winning performance as FDR and Greer Garson, would be nominated for an Oscar, for her portrayal as Eleanor.

Here is a personal reminiscence:

Film composers are accustomed to writing under pressure but these set of circumstances were most unusual. As a family we went to see Dore Schary’s Tony play Sunrise at Campobello on Broadway. After the performance we went to a favorite restaurant, The Russian Tea Room, for dinner. Dore Schary was also having dinner there that night. Father went over to his table to congratulate him on the success of his play and said that if it were to become a motion picture he would do it for free. Well, much to Father’s surprise Mr. Schary was at the Tea Room to celebrate selling the film rights to Warner Bros., and said he would love to have Father compose the score, but not for free. When it came time for production to begin Mr. Schary called Father and apologetically asked if he could come to the studio the following Monday morning and play the “Roosevelt Theme” for him and the young director Vincent J. Donahue? Father agreed. By the end of the week we had not heard any music coming from his studio. Then it was Sunday night and producer David Susskind had been granted the first live American television interview with Soviet President Nikita S. Khrushchev. Almost everyone in the country, world, was watching the 90 minute show. Lella, my step-mother reminded Father that he had to go to the Warner Bros. in the next morning to play the theme for Mr. Schary. Father said that he knew that he was expected. Every time there was a commercial break, during the show, Father would get up and go into his study and we would hear him playing the piano. This went on during the entire interview and when it was over he asked us to come into the studio so he could play the “Roosevelt” theme for us.

– John Waxman