IMDb RATING
7.0/10
445
YOUR RATING
A filmmaker explores the lives and deaths of her grandparents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed as spies in 1953.A filmmaker explores the lives and deaths of her grandparents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed as spies in 1953.A filmmaker explores the lives and deaths of her grandparents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed as spies in 1953.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Bob Considine
- Self - International News Service
- (archive footage)
J. Edgar Hoover
- Self
- (archive footage)
Joseph McCarthy
- Self - Senator
- (archive footage)
Richard Nixon
- Self - Vice President
- (archive footage)
David Greenglass
- Self - Ethel Rosenberg's brother
- (archive footage)
Emanuel Bloch
- Self - the Rosenbergs' attorney
- (archive footage)
Jenny Meeropol
- Self - granddaughter of the Rosenbergs
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaShortlisted for Best Documentary Feature for the 2003 Academy Awards.
- Quotes
Ivy Meeropol: I have to be honest with you, a lot of people don't really wants to talk to me... people are afraid.
- SoundtracksUn Bel Di
Madame Butterfly
performed by Oksana Krovytska
Featured review
A Family's Story.
7/10 This is a pretty good documentary, directed by the Rosenberg's blood granddaughter Ivy Meeropol, it covers in more detail the relationship the trial and execution has had on the family, than on the the actual trial and evidence. It is clear and objectively shown that indeed it has had an arrant multigenerational effect and most likely will continue with the director's children. However, important in the film was the revelation of information contained in the 1995 opening of classified government documents (The Venona Papers) which pretty much proves Julius' guilt (guilty of passing secrets, but nothing supposedly as serious as atomic info) and exonerates Ethel. This is presented as a surprise in the film, although this information was revealed nearly a decade before the film had been made. We spend half the film getting to this point, whereas the film would've been much more effective and in-depth if it would've started off at this point. I only say this 'cause the degree to which the guilt, or degree of guilt affects this family's identity, is highly relevant and the major theme of the documentary. This, and Morton Sobell's incomplete answers to the nature of their guilt (he was their co-defendant!!) made the film seem a little more biased than it had to be. The film also in a way martyrizes the Rosenbergs, which is fine if they were innocent, but a sad and unavoidable manipulation if not. Overall, this is slightly nitpickish on my part and anyone interested in this era of history will not be disappointed.
helpful•92
- ShempMyMcMalley
- Jun 30, 2008
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Heir to an Execution
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
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Top Gap
By what name was Heir to an Execution: A Granddaughter's Story (2004) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer