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Catalog/Documentary/Primary
Primary poster
A
Excellent
MASTER SCORE 75.2 / 100
1960·Documentary / History / News·53m

PRIMARY

Primary is a documentary film about the primary elections between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey in 1960. Primary is the first documentary to use light equipment in order to follow their subjects in a more intimate filmmaking style. This unconventional way of filming created a new look for documentary films where the camera’s lens was right in the middle of what ever drama was occurring. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 1998.

Above the Line
Robert Drew·DirectorRobert Drew·WriterRichard Leacock·Director of PhotographyRobert Drew·Sound RecordistD. A. Pennebaker·Editor
Cast
John F. Kennedy·SelfHubert H. Humphrey·SelfJacqueline Kennedy·SelfRobert F. Kennedy·SelfMuriel Humphrey·SelfRobert Drew·SelfJoseph McBride·Self - Kennedy VolunteerJoseph Julian·Narrator (voice)Philleo Nash·SelfPierre Salinger·Self (uncredited)
Full Crew
(15 credits)
Directing· 1
Robert Drew·Director
Writing· 1
Robert Drew·Writer
Camera· 6
Richard Leacock·Director of PhotographyAlbert Maysles·Director of PhotographyRichard Leacock·Camera OperatorD. A. Pennebaker·Camera OperatorAlbert Maysles·Camera OperatorTerence Macartney-Filgate·Camera Operator
Editing· 4
D. A. Pennebaker·EditorTerence Macartney-Filgate·EditorRichard Leacock·EditorRobert Drew·Editorial Manager
Sound & Music· 2
Robert Drew·Sound RecordistD. A. Pennebaker·Sound Recordist
Production· 1
Robert Drew·Producer
By the Numbers
75.2
OF 100
Master Score
7.1
OF 10
IMDb
100%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Primary's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#4F3D2F
#2B2B2B
#E09038
Mood
Mysterious, Intense
Composition
Split
Era
2010s
Visual Style
Photographic

“The poster features a split composition with three distinct portraits. On the top left, a man in a suit and tie looks directly forward. On the top right, a man ”

thrillerdrama
Atmosphere
Gritty
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
None Visible
Design Score
7/10
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THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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THREE WAYS DEEPER

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AUT
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