Jump to content

George Wallace (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Wallace
DVD cover
GenreBiographical
Based onWallace: The Classic Portrait of Alabama Governor George Wallace
by Marshall Frady
Screenplay byPaul Monash
Marshall Frady
Story byPaul Monash
Directed byJohn Frankenheimer
StarringGary Sinise
Mare Winningham
Clarence Williams III
Joe Don Baker
Angelina Jolie
Terry Kinney
William Sanderson
Mark Rolston
Tracy Fraim
Skipp Sudduth
Ron Perkins
Mark Valley
Theme music composerGary Chang
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerMark Carliner
ProducersJohn Frankenheimer
Julian Krainin
CinematographyAlan Caso
EditorTony Gibbs
Running time178 minutes
Production companyTNT Original
Original release
NetworkTNT
ReleaseAugust 24, 1997 (1997-08-24)

George Wallace is a 1997 biographical television film, produced and directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Gary Sinise as George Wallace, the 45th governor of Alabama. The teleplay, written by Marshall Frady and Paul Monash, is based on the 1996 biography Wallace: The Classic Portrait of Alabama Governor George Wallace by Frady. Mare Winningham, Clarence Williams III, Joe Don Baker, Angelina Jolie, Terry Kinney, William Sanderson, Mark Rolston, Tracy Fraim, Skipp Sudduth, Ron Perkins, and Mark Valley also star.

Sinise reprised his role as George Wallace in Frankenheimer's 2002 television film Path to War, about the Johnson administration's entry into the Vietnam War.[1]

George Wallace premiered on TNT in August 1997, being broadcast in two parts. It was highly praised by critics and received various accolades: including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing (Frankenheimer), Outstanding Lead Actor (Sinise), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Winningham), and Golden Globe Awards for Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Supporting Actress (Jolie).

Plot

[edit]

George Wallace portrays the political life of a complex man. Initially an ordinary Southern judge, Wallace transforms himself to achieve political success and glory, becoming one of the most reviled political figures in the U.S. Finally, a failed assassination attempt -- which leaves him paralyzed and in pain -- leads him to realize what he has become.

The film follows the story of Wallace's life from the 1950s, when he was a circuit court judge in Barbour County, to his tenure as the most powerful Governor in Alabama's history. The movie depicts his symbolic "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door", where Wallace attempted to block black students from entering the University of Alabama. It details his stance on racial segregation in Alabama at the time, which proved popular with his white constituents, and also depicts Wallace's rise as a presidential hopeful. This eventually leads to his surprise victory in several states during the 1968 Presidential election, followed by his attempted assassination four years later.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

The New York Times' Caryn James, wrote that events were "recreated with startling veracity and tension in the two-part mini-series called simply George Wallace." James wrote that Sinise was "amazing" and Mare Winningham was "extraordinary."[2]

The Associated Press stated that the film's version of Cornelia Wallace was depicted as "a shallow sex kitten" and therefore Cornelia Wallace had criticism towards the portrayal.[3]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

George Wallace received award nominations: including eight Primetime Emmy Awards (winning three), four Golden Globe Awards (winning two), two Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning one), four Satellite Awards (winning one), nine CableACE Awards (winning four), a Directors Guild of America Award, and a Writers Guild of America Award. Also winning an American Cinema Editors Award, an American Society of Cinematographers Award, an Art Directors Guild Award, and receiving a Peabody Award.

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1997
 CableACE Awards Miniseries Mark Carliner, John Frankenheimer,
Julian Krainin, and Ethel Winant 		Won [4]
[5]
Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Gary Sinise Won
Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Joe Don Baker Nominated
Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Angelina Jolie Nominated
Directing a Movie or Miniseries John Frankenheimer Won
Writing a Movie or Miniseries Paul Monash and Marshall Frady Nominated
Art Direction in a Dramatic Special or Serires/Movie or Miniseries Michael Z. Hanan, Charles M. Lagola,
and Douglas A. Mowat 		Nominated
Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Movie or Miniseries Antony Gibbs Nominated
Makeup Janeen Schreyer, John E. Jackson,
Matthew W. Mungle, Patricia Androff,
and Jamie Kelman 		Won
Peabody Awards TNT and a Mark Carliner Production Won [6]
1998
 American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series Antony Gibbs (for "Part 2") Won [7]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries Alan Caso Won [8]
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-Series Michael Z. Hanan, Charles M. Lagola,
and Arlan Jay Vetter 		Won [9]
Artios Awards Best Casting for Mini-Series Iris Grossman Won [10]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries John Frankenheimer Nominated [11]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Won [12]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Gary Sinise Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Angelina Jolie Won
Mare Winningham Nominated
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing – Television Mini-Series – Effects & Foley Brady Schwartz Nominated
Humanitas Prize PBS/Cable Television Paul Monash and Marshall Frady Won [13]
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Miniseries Nominated [14]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Gary Sinise Nominated
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Lighting in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best New Titles Sequence in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Mark Carliner, John Frankenheimer,
Julian Krainin, Ethel Winant,
Mitch Engel, and James Sbardellati 		Nominated [15]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Gary Sinise Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Angelina Jolie Nominated
Mare Winningham Won
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie John Frankenheimer Won
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Movie Iris Grossman Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie Alan Caso (for "Part 1") Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Janeen Schreyer, Patricia Androff,
Jamie Kelman, Cheryl Ann Nick,
Keith Sayer, John E. Jackson,
and Matthew W. Mungle 		Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [16]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Gary Sinise Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Joe Don Baker Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Mare Winningham Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Gary Sinise Won [17]
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Mare Winningham Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Adapted Paul Monash and Marshall Frady;
Based on the book Wallace: The
Classic Portrait of Alabama Governor
George Wallace by Marshall Frady 		Nominated [18]
1999
 Costume Designers Guild Awards Excellence in Costume Design for Television May Routh Nominated [19]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Levesque, John (May 19, 2002). "LBJ's vile realities pave HBO's 'Path to War'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  2. ^ James, Caryn (August 23, 1997). "Going Beyond Just Facts To Show a Hollow Soul". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  3. ^ "Widow of late Gov. George Wallace dies at 69". NBC News. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2022-06-08. - Alternate version ("Cornelia Wallace, 69, First Lady of Alabama, Dies") at The New York Times, January 9, 2009. Version ("Cornelia Wallace, 69, second wife of Alabama Gov. George Wallace") at The Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut), January 8, 2009. Alternate ("Former Alabama first lady Cornelia Wallace dies") at The Columbus Dispatch, January 8, 2009.
  4. ^ "CableAce Nominations". Variety. 24 September 1997. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "CableAce Awards". Variety. 17 November 1997. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "George Wallace". Peabody Awards. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Karon, Paul (March 8, 1998). "ASC hands out awards". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "2nd Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards". Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "1998 Artios Awards". www.castingsociety.com. November 4, 1998. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "50th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "George Wallace – Golden Globes". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Past Winners & Nominees". Humanitas Prize. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. ^ "2nd Annual TV Awards (1997-98)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "George Wallace". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "International Press Academy website – 1998 2nd Annual SATELLITE Awards". Archived from the original on February 1, 2008.
  17. ^ "The 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  18. ^ "Previous Nominees & Winners: 1998 Awards Winners". Writers Guild Awards. Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
  19. ^ "The 1st Costume Designers Guild Awards (1999)". Costume Designers Guild. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Wallace_(film)&oldid=1255654856"