Vorwahlkampf

The film "Primary" documents the do or die 1960 Wisconsin Democratic Primary between the up and coming New England "Golden Boy" of the US senate John F. Kennedy against champion of the working man & woman upper mid-west plow boy & pharmacist Hubert Horatio "The Hump" Humphrey in their attempt to be the next president of the USA. The Wisconsin primary being more or less on "The Hump's" home turf in him being from nearby Minnesota it at first look like an uphill climb for the young 42 year old whipper snapper John F. Kennedy but with youth, and most of the ladies in the state, on his side he in the end had no trouble overcoming Humphrey's early lead. That's when the big town & city voters that were mostly populated by the female sex, who outvoted the men by as much as 2 to 1,started to come in Kennedy quickly took the lead and never looked back.

As for Humphrey all his efforts to convince the local population that he was, being a former farm boy,the man for them fizzled away as the vote tally started to come in late in the evening. Kennedy also has in his corner his beautiful and classy wife Jakie or Jacqueine compered to Humphrey's plain Jane looking old lady Muriel that cut into his vote of the male population of the state, who were just crazy about Jackie, that in the end did him in and stopped him cold.

In the end in a race that was supposed to be neck and neck between Kennedy & Humphrey it soon turned out to by a route for Kennedy in him winning 56% of the vote and leaving Humphrey far behind and crying in his beer. This all but set up Kennedy for his next and most important primary victory in West Virginia where his catholic faith was to be a fatal hindrance to him in the almost 100% Protestant state. But with Kennedy's good looks and the beautiful Jackie by his side as well as his dad's-Popa Joe-money, that he used to pay off the local mine workers to vote for John, it had JFK there like in Wisconsin easily be able to get over the "Hump" and win without as much as breaking a sweat.

Primary (1960)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Historically important documentary covers the 1960 Wisconsin primary featuring Hubert Humphrey going up against John F. Kennedy. Considering what would happen over the next three years, watching this film today is pretty remarkable because you can easily see why Kennedy would eventually become president. Just watching the two candidates work just shows an old school and new school and it's not hard to see why Kennedy would eventually get in the office. It's pretty interesting watching this today because of the fact that Kennedy would be assassinated three years after all of this was shot. It's hard not to see Kennedy and that smile of his and not feel sad because no one could have known what was to follow. Director Robert Drew does a very good job at really being fair to both men as I think the documentary shows both of them in a very good and positive light. I really liked the way the film was shot as the camera is more often than not right up on the men, the people meeting them and this look really makes you feel as if you're right there by these people. There's no question that the visual style of this film would have a major impact on future films including Bob Dylan's DON'T LOOK BACK. Running just under a hour, the film manages to be highly entertaining from start to finish but even more so because we know what the final result was.

Senators John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphry vie for votes in the in the 1960 Wisconsin open primary. The camera follows the two candidates through rallies, on busses and in meeting rooms as they hand-shake their way around the state, with Kennedy strong among urban voters and Humphry favoured by the rural electorate. The documentary is revealing and candid in a way that modern 'image masseurs' and 'spin doctors' would likely never permit. The rigours of the non-stop campaigning can be seen in the faces of the two men, especially in the dark bags under the eyes of the youthful Kennedy. The film is likely more interesting to modern audiences because of the presence on the doomed young president-to-be and his lovely wife, but anyone with an interest in U.S. political history or who just wants to see how much has changed in American politics over the last 60 years will find the hour well spent.

Looking back over 50 years the brief and tragic presidency of John F. Kennedy it has an air of inevitability about it. But in my 13 year at the time there was nothing inevitable about it. The great Kennedy machine as it came to be known flexed its muscles first in the Wisconsin primary in 1960.

The traditional first primary of New Hampshire was disregarded that year as it was conceded to New Englander John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Wisconsin which had the oldest of primaries with a mixed population, but next door to JFK's challenger Hubert Humphrey from Minnesota was the real test.

Could a Catholic be elected President? That was the issue, the only one nominated by a major party Alfred E. Smith took a shellacking in 1928. However there were lots of differences between Al Smith and Jack Kennedy too numerous to mention.

From 1956 to 1960 the wealthy Kennedy family organized a 50 state machine second to none. Poor Humphrey never had a chance.

The film without a word of commentary shows the glamorous Kennedys and the excitement around them and Humphrey talking to small knots of people trying to retail votes. When JFK passes his first real test before the voters it's pretty obvious why.

Primary is a real must for any student of the period.

Primary is a 1960 Direct Cinema documentary film about the 1960 Wisconsin primary election between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey for the United States Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

Well, 1960 sure was a different time and place. But it's clear the left media fix was already in 50 years ago.

The most interesting thing in this not so interesting documentary is the scene of real people and how we lived back in a simpler time. It was truly when America was great.

Most of the cars in this movie appear to be from the '40s. And Humphrey rides around in a bus. It looks like a regular bus that you'd ride to work. Everybody seems to be wearing suits and hats and it was civil.

Why did the left ruin our country?