Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009)

Director:

Aviva Kempner

Release Date:

10 July 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Sitcom | Radio | Instant Coffee | Jew

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)

Directed by
Aviva Kempner

Produced by
Aviva Kempner	....	producer
Leah Ramsay	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Learan Kahanov
Tom Kaufman

Film Editing by
Judith Herbert

Sound Department
Billy Johnson	....	sound mixer
Roger Phenix	....	production sound mixer
Skip SoRelle	....	sound designer

Camera and Electrical Department
Dennis Boni	....	additional photographer
David Waldman	....	cinematographer: Los Angeles unit
David Wexler	....	gaffer: additional

Editorial Department
Margaret Sclafani	....	post-production coordinator

Other crew
Charlotte Hendrix	....	line producer

Production Companies

• Ciesla Foundation

Distributors

• International Film Circuit (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Center for Jewish Film (NCJF) (2009) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Du Art Film and Video  post-production facilities

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Ciesla Foundation

Movie Connections:

Features "Person to Person: Episode #1.36" (1954)

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.