The Making of a President
In wartime Sault Ste. Marie, the mayor invites the president of the Jewish congregation to speak at the town’s upcoming ecumenical war bonds rally. However, the president has just quit and nobody wants the thankless job. A funny and endearing drama featuring Melvyn Douglas, Nehemiah Persoff, Paul Soles and a 15-year-old Mike Myers. Based on a semi-autobiographical short story by Order of Canada winner Morley Torgov. Collie-haired Myers, in one of his first TV roles, is more behaved than usual as a skateboard-riding young piano prodigy. Hollywood veteran Douglas does most of the heavy lifting as a Jewish elder trying the impossible — recruiting a new president who can, in Torgov’s words, handle himself “among the goyim” at an upcoming town war bond rally. The town’s new tailor (Soles) — thought of as a bit of a peacock — is seen as the perfect candidate. (CBC TV-Movie 1978)
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the 1976 United States presidential election campaign. It features footage and interviews with key political figures, offering insights into the strategies, debates, and public perception that shaped the race between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
Critical Reception
As a documentary focused on a specific historical event, 'The Making of a President' was primarily reviewed for its informational content and historical accuracy. It was generally seen as a valuable archival piece for understanding the political landscape of the mid-1970s, though some reviews noted its limitations in offering deep analysis beyond observable campaign events.
What Reviewers Say
- Provides a comprehensive overview of the 1976 presidential election.
- Features interesting archival footage and interviews with major political players.
- Offers a valuable historical record of a pivotal American election.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this specific documentary is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The documentary was produced by G. David Schine, who was famously part of the McCarthy-Schine hearings in the 1950s.
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