In this first ever feature-length documentary about the enigmatic Morris "Moe" Berg, award-winning filmmaker Aviva Kempner again focuses her camera on a little-known Jewish hero. From the streets of Newark to five major league teams during baseball's Golden Age to his secret life spying for the OSS during WWII, Berg's improbable story is told with rare historical footage and revealing interviews with family and an All-Star roster from the worlds of history, sports and spycraf... (Full plot summary below)
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In this first ever feature-length documentary about the enigmatic Morris "Moe" Berg, award-winning filmmaker Aviva Kempner again focuses her camera on a little-known Jewish hero. From the streets of Newark to five major league teams during baseball's Golden Age to his secret life spying for the OSS during WWII, Berg's improbable story is told with rare historical footage and revealing interviews with family and an All-Star roster from the worlds of history, sports and spycraft.
Leave your thoughts about The Spy Behind Home Plate.
| Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan[An] authoritative and engrossing documentary. |
| TheWrapWilliam BibbianiThe film doesn’t take an extra step towards cinematic showiness, nor does it glamorize or sensationalize Berg’s life. It’s just a nice time talking about World War II and baseball, sharing stories and retelling old jokes. It’s a respectable ode to Berg’s unusual, remarkable life. |
| The New York TimesKen JaworowskiThere’s much to absorb throughout “The Spy Behind Home Plate,” and sometimes details speed by too fast or digressions go on a bit long. Still, Kempner’s passion for her remarkable subject is always evident. |
| Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenThe Spy Behind Home Plate is a documentary that should appeal to anyone with an interest in stories about the Golden Age of baseball, World War II spy missions, and unusual corners of American Jewish history. |
| Washington PostPat PaduaThe film has more than enough true material to fuel an effective thriller, but director Aviva Kempner doesn’t quite manage to bring this fascinating figure to life. |
| Movie NationRoger MooreThe Spy Behind the Plate feels played, stuffed with filler, overrun with experts of varying merit, and doesn’t break enough new ground to warrant the effort. |
| The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeIt's much more dry than one might expect, demonstrating the truth of something interviewees suggest more than once: As intriguing a person as Berg was, it was not easy to know him. |
| User ReviewBHBarryThe Spy Behind the Plate is a feature length documentary written, produced and directed by Avila Kempner. Using interviews, films and photographs of those who knew him, it tells the story of Morris "Moe" Berg who, as a professional baseball player, attorney, writer and member of the OSS (the predecessor agency to the CIA) helped his country as a spy prior to and during World War II. Well versed in 10, some say 12, foreign languages this major league catcher with degrees from Princeton and Columbia rose from his first generation background to become one of the most interesting and provocative figures in the field of espionage and sports. Well edited and written, the film deserves and gets an 8 rating as the audience is given the opportunity to learn much about this relatively unknown American hero. |
