The Spy Behind Home Plate (2019) Ciesla Foundation/Documentary RT: 101 minutes No MPAA rating (brief language, disturbing war images) Director: Aviva Kempner Screenplay: Aviva Kempner Music: John Keltonic Cinematography: Reuben Aaronson, Jerry Feldman, Roger Grange and Michael Moser Release date: May 31, 2019 (Philadelphia, PA) Cast (Interviewees): Moe Berg (archival), Nicholas Dawidoff, David Ignatius, Thomas Powers, Ed Markey, Michael Frayn, Larry Merchant, Ira Berkow, Brad Ausmus, Jerry Reinsdorf, Bud Selig.
Rating: *** ½
I didn’t originally plan to see the documentary The Spy Behind Home Plate yesterday. I was going to see something else but changed my mind when I saw that director Aviva Kempner was there to do a Q&A after the 1pm and 4pm showings. I met her about four years ago at a Q&A for her last film Rosenwald. After speaking with her for a couple of minutes, I decided to change my schedule and attend the 4pm showing. In retrospect, I’m glad I did. After sitting through the interminably dull and pointless French comedy Non-Fiction, a film as promising as The Spy Behind Home Plate was definitely in order. I’m pleased to announce that it’s a home run!
The Spy Behind Home Plate isn’t Ms. Kempner’s first foray into the world of baseball. She also made the 2001 documentary The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, a film that I still haven’t seen but would love to. You may be saying to yourself, “Why should I watch another documentary about a Jewish athlete?” I have a good answer to that. Moe Berg, the subject of the movie, wasn’t just a baseball player. He was also a spy during WWII. In fact, he was one of the first people appointed to the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA) when it was founded in 1942. His status as a famous ball player made it easy for him to travel to foreign countries, Italy in particular. His job was to collect information on the Germans’ progress in building an atomic bomb. He had a gift (i.e. his personability) for getting people to reveal crucial information. But look at me getting ahead of myself here. Like all good stories, we must start at the beginning.
Moe Berg, born in 1902, was the son of Ukrainian immigrants. He grew up in Newark, NJ where his father was a pharmacist. It was his wish that Moe become a lawyer. Moe had other dreams; namely, he wanted to play baseball. So he went to Princeton and Columbia and got his law degree during the off-seasons. He passed the bar but never practiced law. Instead, he played in the majors- Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox- from 1923 to 1939. H started out as a shortstop until it was discovered that he was a tremendous catcher. He was known as the “brainiest guy in baseball”. He spoke 10 languages, was well read and loved to travel. His friends included Babe Ruth, Chico Marx and Albert Einstein. He was a remarkable man.
When America entered the war in ’41, Moe wanted to do his part. FDR himself named him to the OSS. He was to gather as much info as he could on their atomic bomb project. This was while the US was secretly working on one of their own (“The Manhattan Project” in Los Alamos, NM).
The Spy Behind Home Plate also delves into Moe’s private life. Despite stories about him being gay, he liked the ladies. So says the 102-year-old daughter of Babe Ruth who, in a taped interview, recalls Moe flirting with her on a ship headed to Japan. Moe and Babe, along with Lefty O’Doul and Ted Lyons, were going to teach the Japanese the finer points of baseball. It was during this trip that Moe filmed footage of Japan that would later come in handy. Berg was a secretive man. Whenever asked about his off-field activities, he’d put his finger to his lips and go “Shhhh”.
I must say that The Spy Behind Home Plate is a very compelling film. It’s a lot to take in though. I was exhausted by the time the end credits rolled. BTW, be sure to stay for a funny anecdote about Einstein and a closing shot of Kempner’s granddaughters (they’ve been involved with all her films). ANYWAY, the exhaustion I felt was the good kind. I felt as though I learned a lot even if it was delivered in whirlwind fashion. The archival footage is terrific. I’m not a sports fan but baseball history is a subject of interest. It was fascinating to hear about Berg playing with some of the greats (e.g. Lou Gehrig). The interviews, which include some shot about 35 years ago by co-producer Neil Goldstein (also at the Q&A), are enlightening. We actually get to hear from people who knew Moe personally.
I highly recommend The Spy Behind Home Plate. Even if you don’t like sports, you will find Ms. Kempner’s film most fascinating. It’s playing around the country in limited runs at arthouse theaters. It’s totally worth seeking out.
