The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg

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The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1998) is a documentary film directed and written by Aviva Kempner about Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers. An Orthodox Jew who adhered strictly to Mosaic Law, Greenberg experienced a great deal of antisemitism.

Like many players of the era, Greenberg's career was interrupted by military service. Initially, Greenberg was classified unfit for service due to flat feet. However, upon re-examination, he was cleared. Before Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress released men over age 28. After the attack, Greenberg immediately reenlisted in the United States Army Air Forces.

In 1947, Hank Greenberg, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates and playing his final season, was one of the few ballplayers to give the Brooklyn Dodgers' Jackie Robinson, the majors' first black player in many years, a warm welcome. Robinson later said, "Class tells. It sticks out all over Mr. Greenberg".

Contents

[edit] Film profile

  • Tagline: "When America Needed Heroes, A Jewish Slugger Stepped To The Plate."
  • Runtime: 90 min
  • Country: USA
  • Language: English
  • Color: Black and White (archive footage) / Color
  • Certification: USA:PG

[edit] Film credits

[edit] Produced by

[edit] Directed by

  • Aviva Kempner

[edit] Written by

  • Aviva Kempner

[edit] Cast overview

first billed only

  • Rabbi Brenner .... Himself - interviewee
  • Hank Greenberg .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Walter Matthau .... Himself - interviewee
  • Alan M. Dershowitz .... Himself - interviewee (as Alan Dershowitz)
  • Carl Levin .... Himself - interviewee (as Senator Carl Levin)
  • Stephen Greenberg .... Himself - interviewee
  • Joseph Greenberg .... Himself - interviewee (as Joe Greenberg)
  • Rabbi Max Ticktin .... Himself - interviewee
  • Bill Mead .... Himself - interviewee
  • Lou Gehrig .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Basil 'Mickey' Briggs .... Himself - interviewee
  • Don Shapiro .... Himself - interviewee
  • Bert Gordon .... Himself - interviewee
  • Joe Falls .... Himself - interviewee
  • Henry Ford .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Fr. Charles Coughlin .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Dr. George Barahal .... Himself - interviewee
  • Ira Berkow .... Himself - interviewee
  • Harold Allen .... Himself - interviewee
  • Robert Steinberg .... Himself - interviewee
  • Charlie Gehringer .... Himself - interviewee (also archive footage)
  • Herman 'Flea' Clifton .... Himself - interviewee
  • Billy Rogell .... Himself - interviewee
  • Birdie Tebbets .... Himself - interviewee (as George 'Birdie' Tebbetts)
  • Ernie Harwell .... Himself - interviewee
  • Elden Auker .... Himself - interviewee (as Eldon Auker)
  • Dick Schaap .... Himself - interviewee
  • Goose Goslin .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Dizzy Dean .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Harvey Frank .... Himself - interviewee
  • Marilyn Greenberg .... Herself - interviewee
  • Harriet Colman .... Herself - interviewee
  • Alva Greenberg .... Herself - interviewee
  • Mickey Cochrane .... Himself - interviewee
  • Charlie Grimm .... Himself - interviewee (archive footage)
  • Michael Moriarty .... Himself - interviewee
  • Max Lapides .... Himself - interviewee
  • Gabby Hartnett .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Joe Louis .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Shirley Povich .... Himself - interviewee
  • Al Rosen .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Rip Collins .... Himself - interviewee
  • Tommy Bridges .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Joe DiMaggio .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Jane Briggs Hart .... Herself - interviewee
  • Harry Eisenstat .... Himself - interviewee
  • Bob Feller .... Himself - interviewee (also archive footage)
  • Hoot Robinson .... Himself - interviewee
  • Rudy York .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Hal Newhouser .... Himself - interviewee
  • Barney McCosky .... Himself - interviewee
  • Bobo Newsom .... Himself (archive footage) (as 'Buck' Newsom)

Paul Derringer .... Himself (archive footage)

  • Junior Thompson .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Bucky Walters .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt .... Himself (also radio broadcast) (archive footage)
  • Del Baker .... Himself - interviewee
  • Arn Tellem .... Himself - interviewee
  • Barney Ross .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Caral Gimbel .... Herself - interviewee
  • Glenn Greenberg .... Himself - interviewee
  • Sander Levin .... Himself - interviewee (as Congressman Sander Levin)
  • Walter Briggs, Jr. .... Himself (archive footage) (as Walter 'Spike' Briggs r.)
  • Walter Briggs, Sr. .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Albert 'Happy' Chandler .... Himself (archive footage) (as Happy Chandler)
  • Bill Shuster .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Steve O'Neill .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Paul Richards .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Virgil Trucks .... Himself - interviewee
  • George Kell .... Himself - interviewee
  • Billy Herman .... Himself (archive footage) (as Billy Hermann)
  • Jackie Robinson .... Himself (archive footage)
  • Kenesaw M. Landis .... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Connie Mack .... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Maury Povich .... Himself - interviewee (uncredited)
  • Babe Ruth .... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)

[edit] Awards

  • 2001 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards - "Best Feature Documentary"
  • 2001 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards - "Best Documentary" (tied with The Filth and the Fury (2000))
  • 2001 Columbus International Film & Video Festival - "Silver Chris Award - Religion"
  • 2001 Florida Film Critics Circle Awards - "Best Documentary"
  • 1998 Hamptons International Film Festival - "Audience Award for Most Popular Documentary (Aviva Kempner) tied with Red, White & Yellow (1998)"
  • 2001 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards - "Best Documentary"
  • 2000 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards - "Sierra Award for Best Documentary"
  • 2000 National Board of Review, USA - "Best Documentary"
  • 2001 National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA - "Best Documentary"
  • 2000 New York Film Critics Circle Awards - "Best Non-Fiction Film"
  • 2001 Peabody Award
  • 1999 Washington Jewish Film Festival - "Audience Award for Documentary (Aviva Kempner)"

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links