An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.
- Awards
- 54 wins & 34 nominations
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Self - Producer, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
- (as Margy Whitmer)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Self - 'Mrs. McFeely'
- (as Elizabeth Seamans)
- Self - Pastor
- (as Rev. George Wirth)
- …
- Self - Author
- (archive footage)
- …
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough the documentary includes a brief clip of Fred Rogers' meeting with Koko the Gorilla and shows Koko removing Mister Rogers' shoes, it does not explain the story behind the gorilla's actions. After Koko's death in June 2018, multiple obituaries for the gorilla explained that Koko faithfully watched Mister Rogers' show every day, and during their encounter, she removed his shoes because she was used to seeing him do the same at the start of every episode.
- Quotes
Fred Rogers: From the time you were very little, you've had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving. So, on this extra special day, let's take some time to think of those extra special people. Some of them may be right here, some may be far away. Some may even be in heaven. No matter where they are, deep down you know they've always wanted what was best for you. They've always cared about you beyond measure and have encouraged you to be true to the best within you. Let's just take a minute of silence to think about those people now.
- SoundtracksWon't You Be My Neighbor?
Music and lyrics by Fred Rogers
Performed by Fred Rogers
Courtesy of the Fred Rogers Company
Director Neville (BEST OF ENEMIES: BUCKLEY VS VIDAL, 2015) has produced numerous biopics on musicians ranging from Keith Richards to Muddy Waters to Johnny Cash to Brian Wilson. His subject this time out was known for his singing the show's familiar opening number, and his lyrical legacy was his substantial impact on many generations of children. Mr. Rogers was an ordained minister and, in the early days of television, recognized that violent cartoons were not appropriate programming for the formative childhood years. Even in the early years, he was an outlier with sincerity and wholesomeness in entertainment. He never shied away from tough topics - not even death - whether it was the assassination of Robert Kennedy or a dead fish in the aquarium on set. He spoke directly to children in a voice and language they understood.
There are interviews with fellow cast members, long timer crew members, and relatives, including his wife Joanne. We hear Francois Clemmons (Officer Clemmons on the show) discuss how Mr. Rogers addressed Clemmons' homosexuality and race, adding poignancy to the shared televised foot bath. Archival footage takes us back to the early years, and we see Lady Aberlin and Daniel Tiger in both black and white and color segments. We learn that the puppet Daniel most resembled the personality of the host himself ... a quiet, patient, compassionate being who cared about others.
We see footage of Fred Rogers testifying in front of a Senate sub-committee to prevent funding for PBS from being eliminated, and we see numerous cardigan sweaters and tennis shoes. Mostly we see the approach of a man who built a legacy on kindness and human decency ... a lifetime pursuit of uniting that led to struggles with depression. His obsession with 143 - both his weight and his code for "I love you" provides some insight into his personality, and mostly we hear others speak of his lasting impact.
Rather than comedy and pranks, Mr. Rogers was intent on making kids feel safe and secure in a scary world. Sure he educated - often subtly - but it was his innate ability to comfort that kept kids coming back. There are naysayers who say he is responsible for generations of entitled kids who grew into entitled adults, but the film addresses this by showing Roger's commencement address where he clearly explains the "special" label. His final show was in 2000 and he died in 2003. His legacy is simple yet powerful. We can each do better. We can each be better. We can each be better neighbors.
- ferguson-6
- Jun 7, 2018
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Будемо сусідами?
- Filming locations
- Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA(commencement speech)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $22,835,787
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $475,419
- Jun 10, 2018
- Gross worldwide
- $22,844,741
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1