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Movies / Upcoming / Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg
Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

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Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009)

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Reviews Counted:59

Fresh:55

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7.3/10

Consensus: Equal parts edification and entertainment, Kempner's tender tribute to a forgotten pioneer of American entertainment is both richly deserved and long overdue.

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Synopsis: For more than 25 years, Gertrude Berg was one of the most beloved figures in American pop culture as the creator, writer, producer, and star of THE GOLDBERGS--first on radio (where it was... For more than 25 years, Gertrude Berg was one of the most beloved figures in American pop culture as the creator, writer, producer, and star of THE GOLDBERGS--first on radio (where it was originally known as THE RISE OF THE GOLDBERGS) and then on television. Berg, who was best known to the public in the identity of her character, Molly Goldberg, occupied a unique niche in the fabric of American life: throughout the 1930s, she and Eleanor Roosevelt competed annually in polls for the title of most prominent woman in America. Berg was called The First Lady of Radio at a time when radio was king; later on, in the television era, she invented the family sitcom as we came to know it, and did battle against the Red Scare and the Hollywood blacklist. Director Aviva Kempner's documentary gives an intimate and detailed a look at the life of Berg, who died in 1966 virtually forgotten by the executives of the industry that she helped build. In the process, Kempner explains how this woman--an articulate and intelligent first-generation Jewish-American with little formal background in writing and no knowledge of the media--rose to such success in just a few years, and why she was forgotten and swept aside almost as quickly at the other end of her career. Participants and interviewees include such admirers as producer Norman Lear, actor Edward Asner, and United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. [More]

Director: Aviva Kempner

Director: Aviva Kempner
Studio: International Film Circuit Inc.

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Reviews for Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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A remarkable story, all the more remarkable for the era in which it happened, an era when most women had almost no opportunities to become famous, rich and powerful. Gertrude Berg not only triumphed during this time, she was the Oprah Winfrey of her time.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
11/26/09
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Yoo-Hoo suggests that, yes, Berg broke new ground and, no, she shouldn't be forgotten. But it doesn't explain why she endured, or why she is so forgotten today.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
11/04/09
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

It’s puzzling that a paean to Gertrude Berg’s Jewish New York housewife, Mrs. Goldberg -- a character so beloved and enduring that she could serve as a travel guide through early-to-mid–20th-century history -- could fall so flat.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
10/30/09
Justin Strout
Justin Strout
Orlando Weekly

No matter the accomplishments during her lifetime, Gertrude Berg remains an integral part of the modern media's formation. Thankfully, we now have a permanent testament to how important - and irresistible - she was.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
10/23/09
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
PopMatters

Stylistically unpretentious but highly informative and enjoyable documentary [on] one of radio's great stars and a television pioneer.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
10/21/09
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Stylistically, Aviva Kempner's documentary is no ground-breaker. But its old-school talking-heads/narration/footage format suits its subject matter, and the remarkable story needs no window dressing.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
10/16/09
Jim Slotek
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies

Charming.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
10/16/09
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail

History has been unfair to Berg, a fact that filmmaker Aviva Kempner hopes to correct with this illuminating documentary.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
10/16/09
Jason Anderson
Jason Anderson
Toronto Star

Kempner did her homework in restoring from obscurity this trailblazing sitcom pioneer. The film is well-organized and filled with interesting trivia tidbits.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
10/02/09
Keith Cohen
Keith Cohen
Entertainment Spectrum

Kempner marshals an impressive lineup of both Berg and Goldberg fans to underscore the irrefutable significance of her subject.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/02/09
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

It's absolutely charming to be reminded of -- or, in most cases, introduced to -- Berg and her particular genius. But too much of the film is too light.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
10/02/09
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian

The real kick comes from seeing the stars of yesteryear in grainy film stock.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
09/07/09
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

This was a very informative documentary that is told with a subtle passion. I found it very warm and welcoming. If you have interest in entertainment history, this is a must see!

Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | comment Comment
08/29/09
Austin Kennedy
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

... a good introduction to Gertrude Berg for those who have never heard of her and a pleasant journey down nostalgia lane for those who grew up with her shows.

Full Review Source: Playback:stl | comment Comment
08/28/09
Sarah Boslaugh
Sarah Boslaugh
Playback:stl

It's delightful, if a mite sketchy.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
08/28/09
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Aviva Kempner's documentary Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg is a delightful introduction to Berg, who began writing and performing skits at her father's resort hotel in the Catskill Mountains, then studied drama at Columbia University.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
08/27/09
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

We're left with an impression of a vivacious pioneer; but warm shouldn't have to mean fuzzy.

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
08/27/09
Joe Williams
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

In Yoo Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, Kempner gives us a balance of artist and alter ego, introducing us to a woman we'd like to know even better.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
08/14/09
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

Although not forgotten in the broadcast history books, Berg's immense impact on mid-twentieth century American popular culture needs a fresh examination.

Full Review Source: The Jewish Advocate | comment Comment
08/11/09
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
The Jewish Advocate

In her latest film, Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, [director Aviva] Kempner once again educates and entertains with unexpected tidbits and just plain good old-fashioned filmmaking.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
08/07/09
Leba Hertz
Leba Hertz
San Francisco Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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