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George Wallace (film)

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Wikipedia article




'George Wallace' is a 1997 biographical two-part mini-series produced and directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Gary Sinise as the titular former Governor of Alabama. The mini-series's 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.

'George Wallace' was highly praised by critics and received various accolades: including Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing (Frankenheimer), Outstanding Lead Actor (Sinise), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Winningham), and Golden Globes for Best Television Film and Best Supporting Actress (Jolie).

Plot



'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



* Gary Sinise as George C. Wallace

* Mare Winningham as Lurleen Wallace

* Clarence Williams III as Archie

* Joe Don Baker as Jim "Big Jim" Folsom

* Angelina Jolie as Cornelia Wallace

* Terry Kinney as Billy Watson

* William Sanderson as T.Y. Odum

* Mark Rolston as Ricky Brickle

* Tracy Fraim as Gerald Wallace

* Skipp Sudduth as Al Lingo

* Ron Perkins as Nicholas Katzenbach

* Mark Valley as US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy

* Scott Brantley as Arthur Bremer

* Kathryn Erbe as Mrs. Folsom

* Steve Harris as Neal

* Bobby Kirby as James Hood

* Ketema Nelson as Vivian Malone

Reception



'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."

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.

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. - [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/us/10wallace.html Alternate version ("Cornelia Wallace, 69, First Lady of Alabama, Dies")] at 'The New York Times', January 9, 2009. [https://www.thehour.com/norwalk/article/Cornelia-Wallace-69-second-wife-of-Alabama-Gov-8264106.php Version ("Cornelia Wallace, 69, second wife of Alabama Gov. George Wallace") at] 'The Hour' (Norwalk, Connecticut), January 8, 2009. [https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2009/01/09/former-alabama-first-lady-cornelia/24166009007/ Alternate ("Former Alabama first lady Cornelia Wallace dies") at] 'The Columbus Dispatch', January 8, 2009.

Awards and nominations



'1998 American Cinema Editors (Eddies)'

* Won - Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series Antony Gibbs (for part 2)

'1998 American Society of Cinematographers'

* Won - Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Mini-Series Alan Caso

'1998 Art Directors Guild'

* Won - Excellence in Production Design Award for a Television Movie or Miniseries Michael Z. Hanan, Charles M. Lagola, Arlan Jay Vetter

'1997 CableACE Award'

* Won - Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Gary Sinise

* Won - Best Directing a Movie or Miniseries John Frankenheimer

* Won - Best Makeup Janeen Schreyer, John E. Jackson, Matthew W. Mungle, Patricia Androff, Jamie Kelman

* Won - Best Miniseries Mark Carliner, John Frankenheimer, Julian Krainin, Ethel Winant, Mitch Engel, James Sbardellati

* Nominated - Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Joe Don Baker

* Nominated - Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Angelina Jolie

* Nominated - Best Art Direction in a Dramatic Special or Serires/Movie or Miniseries Michael Z. Hanan, Charles M. Lagola, Douglas A. Mowat

* Nominated - Best Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Movie or Miniseries Antony Gibbs

* Nominated - Best Writing a Movie or Miniseries Paul Monash, Marshall Frady

'1998 Casting Society of America (Artios)'

* Won - Best Casting for TV Miniseries Iris Grossman

'1998 Directors Guild of America'

* Nominated - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials John Frankenheimer

'1998 Emmy Awards'

* Won - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Gary Sinise

* Won - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Mare Winningham

* Won - Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie John Frankenheimer

* Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Angelina Jolie

* Nominated - Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special Iris Grossman

* Nominated - Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie Alan Caso

* Nominated - Outstanding Makeup For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special Janeen Schreyer, John E. Jackson, Matthew W. Mungle, Patricia Androff, Jamie Kelman, Keith Sayer, Cheryl Nick

* Nominated - Outstanding Miniseries Mark Carliner, John Frankenheimer, Julian Krainin, Ethel Winant, Mitch Engel, James Sbardellati

'1998 Golden Globe Awards'

* Won - Best Supporting Actress - Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Angelina Jolie

* Won - Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

* Nominated - Best Actor - Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Gary Sinise

* Nominated - Best Supporting Actress - Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Mare Winningham

'1998 Humanitas Prize'

* Won - PBS/Cable Category Marshall Frady, Paul Monash

'1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors (Golden Reel Award)'

* Nominated - Best Sound Editing - Television Mini-Series - Effects and Foley Brady Schwartz

'1997 Peabody Award'

* Won - Peabody Award Mark Carliner

'1998 Screen Actors Guild Awards'

* Won - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries Gary Sinise

* Nominated - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries Mare Winningham

'1998 Writers Guild of America Awards'

* Nominated - Best Screenplay Adapted Long Form Paul Monash, Marshall Frady

See also



* Civil rights movement in popular culture

References




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