Truman is a 1995 American biographical drama television film directed by Frank Pierson and written by Thomas Rickman, based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1992 book, Truman.[1] Starring Gary Sinise as Harry S. Truman, the film centers on Truman's humble beginnings, his rise to the presidency, World War II, and his decision to use the first atomic bomb. The film's tagline is "It took a farmer's hand to shape a nation." The film aired on HBO on September 9, 1995.

Truman
Genre
Based onTruman
by David McCullough
Written byThomas Rickman
Directed byFrank Pierson
Starring
Music byDavid Mansfield
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerDoro Bachrach
Production locations
CinematographyPaul Elliott
EditorLisa Fruchtman
Running time135 minutes
Production companies
Budget$8 million
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)

Cast

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Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 89% rating based on reviews from 9 critics.[2] Steve Crum of the Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers rated it 5 out of 5, calling it a "Superb production with memorable Sinise performance in title role."[3] TV Guide said, "Over-applauded by many critics, Truman is sturdy, standardized biographical moviemaking elevated by incontestably brilliant acting. Unfortunately, this cavalcade of facts and figures is conceived and executed impersonally like a docent delivering a speech in front of the waxworks at a Presidential museum. … [The audience lacks] a sense that Truman's travails have been shaped on screen by a filmmaker's passion. … Truman offers the satisfaction of textual thoroughness and seamless storytelling, but few flashes of inspiration or imagination."[4]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1996
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television Lisa Fruchtman Nominated [5]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movie of the Week or Pilot Paul Elliott Won [6]
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movie of the Week Casting Mary Colquhoun Won [7]
CableACE Awards Movie or Miniseries Won [8]
Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Gary Sinise Won
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials Frank Pierson Nominated [9]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [10]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Gary Sinise Won
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing – Television Movies of the Week – Sound Effects & Foley Brady Schwartz and Jeffrey Kaplan Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Paula Weinstein, Anthea Sylbert, and
Doro Bachrach
Won [11]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Gary Sinise Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Diana Scarwid Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special Thomas Rickman Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Special Mary Colquhoun Won[a]
Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single Camera Production Lisa Fruchtman Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries or a Special Ashlee Petersen, Gordon J. Smith,
Russell Cate, Evan Penny, Joe Ventura,
Raymond Mackintosh, Heidi Seeholzer,
Louise Mackintosh, and Benjamin Robin
Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special Reinhard Stergar, Wayne Heitman,
James Bolt, and Joel Fein
Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Paula Weinstein, Anthea Sylbert, and
Doro Bachrach
Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Gary Sinise Won [12]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ J. O'Connor, John (September 8, 1995). "TV WEEKEND; Harry S Truman, Late Bloomer". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Truman". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Crum, Steve (July 6, 2006). "Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers". Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers.
  4. ^ "Truman Reviews". TV Guide. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Nominees/Winners". IMDb. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011.
  7. ^ "1996 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. October 15, 1996. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Margulies, Lee (September 11, 1996). "CableACE Nominations Are Dominated by HBO". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  9. ^ "48th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "Truman". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "Truman". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "The 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
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