Charles E. Guggenheim Movies
An Oscar-winning director of social, political, and historical films, Washington-based documentarian Charles Guggenheim played a key role in the development of the American documentary in addition to being a pioneer in the use of documentary style for presidential television campaigns. Born in Cincinnati, OH, in 1924, Guggenheim served in WWII before returning stateside to pursue an education at the University of Iowa in 1948. Moving into a career in media shortly thereafter, Guggenheim worked as the producer of the CBS children's series Fearless Fosdick before taking a job as acting director at St. Louis' KETC Educational Communications. Following his creation of Guggenheim Productions in 1954, Guggenheim produced and directed his first feature, the Steve McQueen heist film The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1960). It was Guggenheim's fateful move to Washington which provided the politically minded director with heretofore unprecedented access to political leaders and information. A job at the U.S. Information Agency during the Kennedy administration found Guggenheim working closely with George Stevens Jr. under the management of Edward R. Murrow, and the following three decades found Guggenheim directing media campaigns for numerous presidential, senatorial, and gubernatorial candidates. Over the years, documentaries such as Nine From Little Rock (1964), D-Day Remembered (1994), and A Place in the Land (1998) earned Guggenheim not only numerous Oscar nominations, but also a respected place in the legacy of American documentarians. Following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Charles Guggenheim died at Georgetown University Hospital in early October 2002. He was 78. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
During the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944, thousands of American GIs were captured by German forces. Berga: Soldiers of Another War, the final work in the distinguished career of four-time Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Charles Guggenheim, is the untold story of 350 American POWs caught in the tragedy of the Holocaust. In blatant violation of the Geneva Convention, the Jewish American soldiers in the 106th Infantry Division, together with those who had "Jewish-sounding" names or who "looked" Jewish, were shipped off to the slave-labor camp at Berga am Elster, a satellite camp of the infamous Buchenwald. There they were starved, mistreated, and forced to work alongside slave laborers from Nazi concentration camps. During the four months between their capture and their liberation, 20 percent of the POWS died of disease, malnutrition, and other causes. Charles Guggenheim had been a member of the 106th, but was stateside due to illness when his comrades were captured and mistreated. Nearly six decades later, Guggenheim interviewed survivors of the ordeal while filming on location in Berga, Germany. The result is this 90-minute documentary, completed a scant six weeks before Guggenheim's death of pancreatic cancer. The film made its American TV debut courtesy of PBS. Extra features available on DVD include David McCullough interviewing Charles Guggenheim, outtakes from the film, and selected works by the director. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles E. Guggenheim
The blurry line between a rumor and the truth is stretched to the breaking point in this drama. Three arrogant and self-centered college students, Jones (Lena Headey), Derek (James Marsden), and Travis (Norman Reedus), are brought together for a class project, in which they decide to start a rumor and keep track of how it spreads. Looking for possible gossip material, they see Naomi (Kate Hudson), a girl known for her high-minded views on saving sex for marriage, drunkenly making out with Bo (Joshua Jackson) at a party. The three students begin passing around the rumor that Naomi became a victim of date rape later that evening, embroidering the truth with allegations that Bo forcibly seduced Naomi after she was too inebriated to put up a fight. Before long, the rumor makes its way back to Naomi herself, who suffered a black-out on the night in question after too much alcohol. Naomi panics, and convinced that the rumor is true, contacts the police, who assign Detective Kelly (Sharon Lawrence) to investigate the charges of rape filed against Bo. Featuring a cast of young actors best known for their work on television, Gossip was an appropriate first feature film for director Davis Guggenheim, who previously distinguished himself on such TV series as ER, NYPD Blue, and Party of Five. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Bogosian, Marisa Coughlan, (more)
- 1994
Combining footage from American, British, and German film archives, this inspiring documentary presents an unromantic view of D-day. At a point in history when it seems that the world was on the brink of crisis, one of the most ambitious military operations took place. The invasion of Europe at Normandy on June 6, 1944, by the Allied Forces is still one of the most moving and important moments of the 20th century. Narrated by David McCullough, D-Day Remembered allows the images and voices of those who participated in the invasion to recount the story of a truly remarkable day. ~ Cara Saposnik, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In diversity lies the strength of this nation. Between 1890 and 1920, the United States experienced its greatest influx of immigrants. Originally telecast on the award-winning PBS series The American Experience, this 1989 documentary chronicles the arrival of the millions of immigrants who ventured to the shores of America for a better life than they had in the countries they left. Director Charles Guggenheim includes photographs and rare archival motion picture footage of immigrants being processed at the Ellis Island point of entry. Other highlights include interviews with historians and descendants of immigrants of the period. Introduced by series host David McCullough. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide
- 1987
This arts documentary looks at the history of architecture in the United States. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1959
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Based on an actual bank heist (and even using the St. Louis policemen who took part in thwarting the original robbery), this fairly ho-hum caper film stars Steve McQueen as the driver of the getaway car for the four bank robbers. The four men go over their plan several times, including dry runs to cover every possible contingent. These preparations take up most of the film, so that by the time the thieves are ready to do it, the audience has been ready forever. The actual scenario when the thieves walk into the bank is fast-paced, and as might be expected, even the best-laid plans cannot foresee everything. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, David Clarke, (more)
This program is part of the acclaimed PBS series that features stories on some of the key events in American history. This episode recounts the disastrous flood of 1889 in Johnstown, PA, when the dam unexpectedly broke at a nearby resort. Developed for their own use by industrialists such as Andrew Carnegie, America's wealthiest families summered at the retreat, which was situated by an antiquated and defective dam. This logistical error cost over 2,000 people their lives, leaving thousands more bereft of their homes and possessions. The tragedy instigated safety reforms in its wake. Archival photographs, journals, and newspaper accounts re-create the horror of the Johnstown flood. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
