50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. & Mrs. Kraus

In 1939, Philadelphia lawyer Gilbert Kraus and his wife Eleanor traveled to Austria to rescue 50 Jewish children and resettle them safely in the United States. The couple faced major obstacles, from American immigration policy that kept thousands of European Jewish refugees from receiving asylum, to Jewish-American groups who were not openly supportive of the Krauses' efforts. To make matters worse, the Krauses were Jewish, so their presence in Nazi-controlled Vienna was not welcomed by local authorities. Nonetheless, they managed to arrange passage for 50 children between the ages of 5 and 14 to cross the Atlantic—no mean feat, given that the State Department was not overly benevolent in granting visas to Jews fleeing Nazi tyranny. Narrated by Alan Alda, this HBO-aired documentary by filmmaker Steven Pressman serves up a powerful and sincere tribute to these long-forgotten heroes and their remarkable act of heroism. Nine of the children saved by the Krauses are interviewed here, while Eleanor Kraus's journal of the perilous journey offers an inspiring view of courage (actress Mamie Gummer recites Eleanor's writing). A stirring true Holocaust story, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)