Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (2009)
89%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win
Aviva Kempner’s documentary, Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, is a fascinating and informative look at the life and career of Gertrude Berg, a woman who broke barriers and paved the way for future female comedians. While some critics may find the film lacking in emotional depth, Kempner’s attention to detail and dedication to preserving Berg’s legacy is truly admirable. Through interviews with family members, colleagues, and historians, Yoo-Hoo paints a vivid picture of a woman who was not only a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, but also a beloved figure in American households. Berg’s influence on popular culture cannot be overstated, and this documentary is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of comedy and television.
Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg is like a time machine that takes you back to the early days of television. It’s a fascinating look at Gertrude Berg, the woman who created and starred in The Goldbergs, a show that was way ahead of its time. The documentary is informative and entertaining, and it’s amazing to see how much influence Berg had on the medium. Plus, it’s always fun to learn about forgotten pieces of history, especially when they involve a Jewish New York housewife who was the Oprah Winfrey of her time. Overall, Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg is a charming and nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Production Company(ies)
Participant Willi Hill Killer Content
Distributor
International Film Circuit [us]
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2009
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 17, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Gertrude Berg, The Goldbergs, radio program, TV sitcom, writer, producer, Aviva Kempner, Norman Lear, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Jewish immigrant, entertainment history, forgotten pioneer, edification, entertainment, tribute, overlooked figure, critic reviews, box office, budget, MPAA rating, producer, director, writer, genre, audience score, sound mix, Dolby, runtime, distributor, reviewed by Nell Minow, Hank Sartin, Andrea Gronvall, Roger Moore, Liam Lacey, Jason Anderson, Sean Axmaker, Christopher Long, David Cornelius, Emily S Mendel, Robert Roten, Justin Strout, Walter M
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Aviva Kempner – Writer
Aviva Kempner – Producer
Director(s)
Aviva Kempner
Writer(s)
Aviva Kempner
Producer(s)
Aviva Kempner
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
1 win
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (5)
April 21, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It is only in the sequence about Berg’s popular costar Philip Loeb that Aviva Kempner’s documentary resonates.
December 16, 2009
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
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.
November 4, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Charming.
October 16, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
History has been unfair to Berg, a fact that filmmaker Aviva Kempner hopes to correct with this illuminating documentary.
October 16, 2009
Jason Anderson
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Aviva Kempner’s documentary is a real eye-opener on an influential woman whose once central place in American popular has been mostly forgotten.
September 4, 2010
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
Gertrude Berg was the Queen of All Media long before Howard Stern ever dreamed about being King.
August 27, 2010 | Rating: 7/10
Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
Berg’s professional story is worthy enough to be retold, although one wishes for something a little more emotionally compelling.
August 25, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
David Cornelius
Popcornworld
Kempner has made The Goldbergs informative, entertaining, poignant, and … nostalgic. A piece of history has been saved.
April 30, 2010
Emily S. Mendel
culturevulture.net
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.
November 26, 2009 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
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.
October 30, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Justin Strout
Orlando Weekly…
Plot
A documentary on television pioneer Gertrude Berg. She was the creator, principal writer, and star of “The Goldbergs,” a popular radio show for 17 years, which became television’s very first character-driven domestic sitcom in 1949. Berg received the first Best Actress Emmy in history, and paved the way for women in the entertainment industry.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg.
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