Following the career of Jewish baseball star Hank Greenberg from his beginnings in the Bronx to his success in the Texas minor leagues to his signing to the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s, this documentary recounts the inspirational tale of an American hero. Including nearly 50 interviews with Greenberg himself, his family, other players, celebrities, fans, and public figures, the film uses older film clips and excerpts from Hollywood movies popular in Greenberg's day, accompanied by a spirited soundtrack of songs from the 20s and 30s.
It took director-producer Aviva Kempner 13 years to complete the project, mostly to gather the financing; the film ended up costing about one million dollars to produce. The film made more than one million dollars at the box office.
The film won Audience Awards at a number of festivals, including the 1998 Hamptons International Film Festival and the 1999 Washington Jewish festival.
Kempner was drawn to the subject because Hank Greenberg was her father's hero.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the National Board of Review named THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANK GREENBERG Best Documentary of 2000.
The New York Film Critics Circle named THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANK GREENBERG Best Non-Fiction Film of 2000.
The National Society of Film Critics named THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANK GREENBERG Best Nonfiction Film of 2000.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Single Side - Dual Layer
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Surround - English
Additional Release Material:
Interviews
Audio Commentary: Aviva Kempner - Director
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Reviews
Statistics:
1. Hank Greenberg - Subject
Text/Photo Galleries:
Photo Galleries
Biographies: Hank Greenberg - Subject
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Review 1:
"...Kempner's labor of love is a model of what a talking-heads documentary should be..."
Source: USA Today
p.13E 06/02/2000
Review 2:
"...A sentimental, witty documentary....The film is also quite adept at recreating a bygone era in the sport..."
Source: Box Office
p.68 05/01/2000
Review 3:
"...Kempner's documentary is a breezy concoction that paints baseball as a source of our individual heroes and our common ground..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.63 10/19/2001
Review 4:
"...Unusually rewarding documentary....Illuminates an era when a star Jewish athlete turned a lot of stereotypes on their heads..."
Source: Movieline's Hollywood Life
p.33 07/??/2000
Review 5:
"...Warm and intelligent..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C6 05/19/2000
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