Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009)

The story of the actress, writer, and broadcasting pioneer Gertrude Berg.

Director:

Aviva Kempner

Stars:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gertrude Berg, Lewis Berg

Cast

Credited cast:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg	...	Herself
Gertrude Berg	...	Herself (archive footage)
Lewis Berg	...	Himself (archive footage)
Sara Chase	...	Laura (voice)
Viola Harris	...	Herself
Norman Lear	...	Himself
Madeline Lee	...	Herself (as Madeline Guilford)
Arlene McQuade	...	Herself
Margaret Nagle	...	Herself
Susan Stamberg	...	Herself
Betty Walker	...	Mrs. Bertha Kramer (archive footage)
Roberta Wallach	...	Effie (voice)

Storyline

A documentary on television pioneer Gertrude Berg. She was the creator, principal writer, and star of "The Goldbergs," a popular radio show for 17 years, which became television's very first character-driven domestic sitcom in 1949. Berg received the first Best Actress Emmy in history, and paved the way for women in the entertainment industry.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | sitcom | radio | instant coffee | jew | 

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Taglines:

"The Most Famous Woman in America You've Never Heard Of"

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 July 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$19,302 (USA) (10 July 2009)

Gross:

$1,133,662 (USA) (1 January 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ciesla Foundation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Person to Person: Episode #1.36 (1954)

User Reviews

The contributions of an early pioneer

The intense rush of nostalgia that Aviva Kempner's film floods the audience with is carefully interrupted with well-placed--though brief--darker sides of the facets of Gertrude Berg's extraordinarily unique life. For instance, we're shown the close relationship with her mother in earlier years, but later told a more troubling aspect which adds depth but never spoils Berg's optimism that was such a hallmark in her material.

This technique is constantly employed and keeps us engaged with one exception: The McCarthy era is given a longer sequence into how the Red Channel affected those in Berg's circle and brought shame to a country that ironically also provided opportunity to many mentioned in the film, many of whom were broken beyond repair by rumor and suspicion.

There's generous archival footage that covers the entirety of Berg's life, and reminds us of her contribution not only to early radio and television, but of a rare driven talent that can still touch us today. We're fortunate this film was made when it was since some of the original cast and friends and colleagues provide primary source material. This is a warm and loving portrait that also touches on difficulties most pioneers face.