or


[03/19/13 - 09:18 AM]
Inspiring Documentary "50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus," the Previously Untold Story of Two American Heroes, Debuts On Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 8, Exclusively on HBO
Steven Pressman wrote, directed and produced the film in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

[via press release from HBO]

INSPIRING DOCUMENTARY "50 CHILDREN: THE RESCUE MISSION OF MR. AND MRS. KRAUS," THE PREVIOUSLY UNTOLD STORY OF TWO AMERICAN HEROES, DEBUTS ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, APRIL 8, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

When much of the world closed its eyes to the terrors of Nazi Germany, one American couple risked everything to save Jewish children from an unimaginable fate.

50 CHILDREN: THE RESCUE MISSION OF MR. AND MRS. KRAUS tells the dramatic, previously untold story of Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, a Jewish couple from Philadelphia who followed their conscience, traveling to Nazi-controlled Vienna in spring 1939 to save a group of children. Amidst the impending horrors of the Holocaust, they put themselves in harm's way to bring what would become the single largest-known group of children allowed into the U.S. during that time.

Narrated by Alan Alda, with Mamie Gummer reading from the memoir of Mrs. Kraus, this inspiring documentary, co-presented by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, debuts on Holocaust Remembrance Day, MONDAY, APRIL 8 (9:00-10:05 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: April 11 (12:30 a.m.), 12 (4:30 p.m.), 15 (11:30 a.m.), 18 (12:30 p.m.), 20 (2:30 p.m.) and 28 (11:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: April 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 27 (9:40 a.m.)

Several years before he began filming in 2010, first-time filmmaker Steven Pressman received Eleanor Kraus' unpublished memoir from his wife, Liz Perle, who was the Krauses' granddaughter. Written decades earlier, the manuscript spelled out in rich detail the Krauses' amazing mission.

50 CHILDREN: THE RESCUE MISSION OF MR. AND MRS. KRAUS weaves together excerpts from Eleanor's journals, archival footage of Vienna and Berlin under Hitler's rule and rare photographs of the children who would be rescued. In addition to interviews with Holocaust historians, including Paul Shapiro, director of the Center for Advanced Holocaust studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Krauses' granddaughter, much of this bittersweet tale is told by some of the surviving children, who are now in their 70s and 80s. They include:

Kurt Admon, currently residing in Netanya, Israel

Paul Beller, currently residing in Morris Township, NJ

Robert Braun, currently residing in Fairfield, Ct.

Elizabeth Davis, currently residing in Melbourne, Fla.

Kurt Herman, currently residing in Philadelphia

Klara Lee, currently residing in Atherton, Cal.

Helga Milberg, deceased, who lived in Tucson

Fritzi Nozik, currently residing in Melbourne, Fla.

Henny Wenkart, currently residing in New York City

In January 1939, Gilbert Kraus, a Jewish lawyer from Philadelphia, told his wife Eleanor that he'd been contemplating going into Nazi Germany to bring Jewish children back to the U.S. "'This is really crazy,' I told Gil," wrote Eleanor in her journal. "'No one in his right mind would go into Germany right now.'"

Many Americans were already aware of the increasing brutality of the Nazis, but few were willing to do anything about it. America also had rigid immigration laws that made it all but impossible to bring large numbers of Jewish refugees into the country, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt declined to support a bill in Congress that would have allowed thousands of children into the country. The Krauses also faced resistance from Jewish leaders who feared their rescue mission might lead to more anti-Semitism in the U.S.

Determined to try, Gilbert met in Washington, D.C. with Assistant Secretary of State George Messersmith, explaining that Brith Sholom, a Jewish fraternal organization, had recently built a home outside Philadelphia that had 50 beds for use by children. Meanwhile, the Krauses needed 50 affidavits from American families willing to assume responsibility for them. Eleanor took on this challenge, collecting affidavits from friends and acquaintances while ignoring those who worried about rocking the boat.

In Vienna, the Nazis had tightened their grip after folding Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. Helga Milberg, who was rescued by the Krauses, remembers her father's disbelief that such a thing could happen in Vienna, where "people are too intelligent." But when Hitler rode into town, he was cheered by throngs of Austrians, and swastika flags were proudly flown everywhere. Jewish children were soon banned from attending school or playing in public parks. The Nazis began to carry out a policy known as "judenrein" - the removal of every Jew living in Austria. The problem was where they would go. As Henny Wenkart, one of the rescued children recalls, "Everybody could get out. Nobody would let us in. Everyone could have been saved."

After Gilbert arrived in Vienna, followed shortly by his wife, his mission was made known within the city's Jewish community, and hundreds of families clamored for the chance to send their children to the safety of America. The selection process involved interviews with the Krauses and Dr. Robert Schless, their German-speaking pediatrician, who had crossed the Atlantic with Gilbert. The 50 children were chosen on the basis of physical and mental health; social and financial status were not factors.

The American consulate in Vienna, however, had no remaining visas, so the Krauses took a train to Berlin in a last-ditch appeal to the U.S. embassy there. Though Gilbert arranged for 50 visas to be set aside, each child's passport had to be issued by Nazi authorities. Along with the affidavits obtained by Eleanor, Gilbert himself had agreed to be personally responsible for the children, an act that even now brings tears to the eyes of Robert Braun, one of the rescued children who lived with the Krauses as a young boy.

Back in Vienna, following a nerve-racking encounter with the Gestapo, the Krauses finally secured 50 passports. On the rainy night of May 21, 1939, parents brought their children to the Vienna train station without knowing if they would ever see them again. The parents could not even wave goodbye as the train pulled away, because Jews could be arrested for any gesture that might be mistaken for a "Heil Hitler" salute.

The Krauses and their charges returned to Berlin, where the children received their visas from the American embassy. They continued on to Hamburg and boarded the S.S. President Harding for the ten-day voyage to America. After arriving in New York on June 3, 1939, the 50 children spent the summer at the Brith Sholom home outside of Philadelphia before moving in with relatives or foster families.

Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus quietly resumed their lives, rarely discussing what they had accomplished.

For more information on the documentary, visit: Facebook: facebook.com/hbodocs; and Twitter: @HBODocs # HBODocs.

50 CHILDREN: THE RESCUE MISSION OF MR. AND MRS. KRAUS is a presentation of HBO Documentary Films in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; written, directed and produced by Steven Pressman; editor, Ken Schneider; original score by Marco D'Ambrosio; directors of photography, David Sperling and Andrew Black. For HBO: supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [march 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.