Primary trailer

Now available in a beautifully remastered version from The Criterion Collection, https://www.criterion.com/films/28907-the-kennedy-films-of-robert-drew-associates. The first of four critically acclaimed films by Drew Associates focusing on President John F. Kennedy, this breakthrough documentary travels along with the then-senator as he campaigns against Hubert Humphrey for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. Allowing viewers to experience the event along with the Kennedys, the Drew film captures JFK's rational, charismatic presence, the frenzied urban crowds, Jacqueline Kennedy's calm radiance and Humphrey's populist appeal. Revealing the personalities and politics of the campaign trail as they had never been seen before, "Primary" offers a compelling glimpse into the early career of one of the world's most captivating leaders. The film is considered the founding documentary of American cinema verite, the first non-fiction film in which a sync-sound camera moves with a character through life events. Robert Drew, who founded Drew Associates in 1960, led a team of now-legendary documentary filmmakers, including Richard Leacock, D.A. Pennebaker, and Albert Maysles, in producing this classic. The film won numerous awards in 1961, including the Blue Ribbon at the American Film Festival, the Flaherty Award for Best Documentary, and Outstanding Film at the London Film Festival.