Daniel Anker Movies
- 2004
- Add Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust to QueueAdd Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust to top of Queue
The American film industry took it upon itself to act as a cheerleader for United States and Allied military interests during World War II, but Hollywood was initially reluctant to directly condemn Nazi anti-Semitism, and it wasn't until years after the war ended that American filmmakers began offering a realistic, dramatic look at the horrible toll of Hitler's "final solution." Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust is a documentary which examines how filmmakers reacted to German scapegoating of Jews before, during, and after the war, ranging from the boldness of Confessions of a Nazi Spy and The Mortal Storm (both of which were produced before America entered the war) to more oblique statements during the war itself, and then finally leading to an honest portrayal of the full consequences of the Holocaust beginning in the '50s. Produced for the cable television network American Movie Classics, Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust was premiered at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, (more)
- 2003
Filmmaker Daniel Anker offers a look at the multitude of faces and personalities behind one of America's most celebrated symphonies in this documentary. For over a hundred years, the Philadelphia Orchestra has been an internationally respected ensemble, performing all across the United States and around the world, but Music From the Inside Out examines the 100 individuals that make up the orchestra. The players discuss how they fell in love with music, their other creative and musical pursuits (some of the musicians perform with jazz, world music, and even bluegrass groups, while others creative visual art), the struggles and rewards of pursuing their dreams, what speaks to them creatively, and how so many people with differing temperaments can work together to create beautiful music. Music from the Inside Out was produced and financed in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but enjoyed a critically-acclaimed tour of film festivals and art theaters before making its bow on television. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Documentary filmmaker Barak Goodman explores the famed Scottsboro case of 1931. That year, nine black males, aged 13 to 19, were tried, convicted, and almost executed for raping two white women of dubious reliability. The case soon became an international cause célèbre and proved to be a catalyst for the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andre Braugher
- 1995
This program offers an in-depth portrait of a controversial figure in American history, the former mayor of Chicago Richard Daley. The political machine built by Daley transformed the face of American politics, but his inability to deal equitably with racial and ethnic tension led to his undoing. From his alleged involvement in John Kennedy's presidential bid to his fateful decision to build the country's first urban housing projects, no major event in the life of this man is missed. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
