The Spy Behind Home Plate

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2:18

The Spy Behind Home Plate

2019

1h 41m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Morris Moe Berg was an enigmatic and brilliant Jewish baseball player turned spy. Berg caught and fielded in the major leagues during baseball's Golden Age in the 1920s and 1930s, but very few people know that Berg also worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), spying in Europe and playing a prominent role in America's efforts to undermine the German atomic bomb program during WWII.

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Despite the abundance and thoroughness of the historical research and on-camera interviews, the film never fully completes its picture of [Moe] Berg.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 18, 2019

Full Review

Scott Marks

San Diego Reader

Reaching too hard for nostalgia, the distracting wall-to-wall soundtrack plays like a K-Tel collection of wartime hits. And for every talking head author, there's a copy of their book hogging the frame. A fascinating story nonetheless.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 9, 2019

Full Review

William Bibbiani

TheWrap

The 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.

Jun 14, 2019

Full Review

Doris Toumarkine

FilmDINGHY.com

The considerable footage of Berg in both Japan and Europe (before and during the war) expand the doc into a kind of personal and period travelogue.

Feb 11, 2020

Full Review

M.V. Moorhead

Phoenix Magazine

It's an amazing tale; Berg seems like the lovingly-crafted hero of a Michael Chabon novel. Kempner spins it straightforwardly and briskly, with enthusiastic talking heads and deftly-edited archival footage.

Jan 7, 2020

Full Review

Hunter Lanier

Film Threat

Even though there's a lot to take in, Kempner divvies out the information in a way that's logical and easy to follow.

Rated: 7/10

Dec 17, 2019

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Anna

Very well done - informative - highly recommend this film, especially for history buffs.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/25/19

Full Review

Pamela W

It was informative but very slow moving. Which made it challenging to watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/21/19

Full Review

Allan P

Excellent documentary. Held my interest throughout. I would recommend this to all fans of baseball, WWII history and Jewish studies. Compelling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/19

Full Review

Audience Member

Interesting, but ultimately compromised by too much politically-correct editorializing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/19

Full Review

Sheldon O

An amazing story told with a great deal of researched information. This documentary provides much historical information not only about the life of Moe Berg, but it also provides much information about famous world leaders as well as illustrates some famous baseball legends associated with Moe Berg.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/19

Full Review

Shelley B

Fascinating documentary about an enigmatic figure who made major contributions to US and the world, but on his own terms. A true American hero.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/09/19

Full Review

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Aviva Kempner

Director

Aviva Kempner

Producer

Barbara Ballow

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The Spy Behind Home Plate: Trailer 1

2:18

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Synopsis

Morris Moe Berg was an enigmatic and brilliant Jewish baseball player turned spy. Berg caught and fielded in the major leagues during baseball's Golden Age in the 1920s and 1930s, but very few people know that Berg also worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), spying in Europe and playing a prominent role in America's efforts to undermine the German atomic bomb program during WWII.

Director: Aviva Kempner
Producer: Aviva Kempner
Distributor: The Ciesla Foundation
Production Co: Ciesla Foundation
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2019, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $285.9K
Runtime: 1h 41m