(From IMDb.com)
At some point about halfway through the strikingly poignant documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? the parade of people who pay homage to the man whom America came to know as Mister Rogers were asked by the filmmakers put together by director Morgan Neville the question that’s no doubt on every film viewer’s mind by now:
Was Fred Rogers really like that? Answer: Yes.
There really was a man who believed he could pass along to the children of America his basic principles of love and respect by putting on TV his simple values via puppet shows and slow storytelling.
Oh, how he believed it. And, oh, how he connected with generations of children.
This documentary will open your eyes and mind to the depth of Fred Rogers’ intelligence and faith, in his family, in real life and in the TV studio, as he fought to keep the daily connection via his PBS show.
Done Fred-style. (From IMDb.com)
The depth of the clips and interviews made me feel as if Neville had been shooting this piece on Rogers since the TV man’s beginning days in Pittsburgh and on through his retirement 40 years later. Of course, the collection of old shows made the clip part easy. But the access to his wife and children and TV mates, that’s a true sign of their never-bending loyalty, far after Rogers’ death from cancer in 2003.
So now we know.
Fred Rogers graduated from the seminary before embarking on his PBS career, sharpening his faith and deepening his commitment to love of mankind.
Fred Rogers saved PBS’s funding with his well-chosen words in front of a crucial Congressional hearing.
Fred Rogers wasn’t perfect. He prohibited a gay cast member from being seen frequenting gay bars, for example, because he thought sponsors would pull funding.
But, wow, was Fred Rogers a stickler for his cause: Every child is worth it. Every child deserves an ear.
It was a wonderful day in the neighborhood, thanks to Fred Rogers.
Central New Yorkers can see ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ free at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at the Liverpool Public Library.
Mark Bialczak 
I am so glad I decided to watch this. It cleared up any little doubts I had and sent me to the internet to learn even more about him. What an amazing man!
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It really does explain his way very well, pkadams!
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I walked out of the theater just feeling good–as did my son. We need more warriors for love like him . . .
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Great phrase for Fred, Kay. He was one heck of a warrior for love. Thank you!
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he is one of my idols and i cried throughout this movie. loved it
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It was a documentary crying to be made, Beth.
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Yes )
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I loved his work so much 🙂
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He made a difference to so many lives, Joey.
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I cannot wait to see this. ♥️
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You will appreciate it greatly, I think, MBC.
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He had an astute understanding of what small children needed – and the skills to produce a show that may have been excruciatingly slow moving for adults but timed just right for kids.
(So many had to be careful about funding – he had to continue his show as it was so important, sometimes the big picture/greater goal takes precedence over individual no matter how worthy they are? Looking at the body of work and context of era, I’ll not place blame on him. Change happens slowly, but does happen.)
Are his shows anywhere on rerun? Small kids today could use a bit of quiet calm. Let good happen.
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I think you can find any show on the Internet with YouTube, Phil. Your comments are right on.
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If the kid’s got to be on screen time, there’s one worth it
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You sure got that right, Phil.
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It’s a wonderful movie. He walked the walk and he talked the talk.
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He sure did, Lynn.
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