Primary(1960)
Primary Synopsis
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.
Primary (1960) is a documentary film directed by Robert Drew, released on November 8, 1960 with a runtime of 53m. It stars John F. Kennedy, Hubert H. Humphrey, Jacqueline Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Viewers rate it 6.5 out of 10 across 42 ratings.
- Director:
- Robert Drew
- Writers:
- Robert Drew
- Producers:
- Robert Drew
- Cinematographer:
- Richard Leacock
- Production:
- Drew Associates
- Status:
- Released
Primary (1960) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Primary before you stream it.
Primary Cast & Crew
Main cast
John F. Kennedy
as Self
Hubert H. Humphrey
as Self
Jacqueline Kennedy
as Self
Robert F. Kennedy
as Self
Muriel Humphrey
as Self
Robert Drew
as Self
Joseph McBride
as Self - Kennedy Volunteer
- Joseph Julian
Joseph Julian
as Narrator (voice)
- Philleo Nash
Philleo Nash
as Self
Pierre Salinger
as Self (uncredited)
- Clement John Zablocki
Clement John Zablocki
as Self (uncredited)
Key crew
Directed by Robert Drew, written by Robert Drew, produced by Robert Drew.
Explore more Documentary titles
Primary Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.5/10 from 42 ratings.
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Primary – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Primary online?
+
Primary (1960) is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel and HBO Max, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Primary?
+
The main cast of Primary (1960) includes John F. Kennedy, Hubert H. Humphrey, Jacqueline Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Muriel Humphrey. The film was directed by Robert Drew. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Primary released?
+
Primary was released on November 8, 1960 and runs for 53m.
Is Primary worth watching?
+
Primary (1960) holds an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from 42 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Primary?
+
Yes. The official Primary trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.