WOMAN CALLED GOLDA, A {PART 2 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Part two of this two-part docudrama starring, in her final performance, Ingrid Bergman as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. In this part, Golda continues to recount the important events of her life to the Milwaukee schoolchildren. Told in flashback, the story continues in 1948 when Golda is sent to the United States to raise money for arms for Israel. Without any prepared speeches, she manages to raise fifty million dollars for her homeland. The day after Israel declares its independence, the Arab Legion invades Israel. Israel, however, is triumphant in battle and gains part of Jerusalem. David Ben-Gurion becomes the first Prime Minister of Israel and Golda Meir is appointed Minister of Labor. She hires Lou Kaddar as her assistant. Large numbers of immigrants begin arriving in Israel. United States Senator Hubert Humphrey comes to Israel and speaks with Golda about the young couples who are living together there even though they are not married. He explains how important it is for the couples to get married and have children so that the population of Israel will increase. Golda attempts to persuade the couples to do as the Senator suggested. Golda's husband, Morris, dies. She serves as Minister of Labor for seven years. One day, she saves the Prime Minister's life when someone attempts to assassinate him in the Parliament. Golda is appointed Foreign Minister and is told to choose a Hebrew name. David Ben-Gurion recommends "Golda Meir," which means "golden light." Directly after Golda Meir assumes her new position, President Nasar of Egypt stops Israeli ships from using the Suez Canal. In response, Israel takes over the Gaza Strip, but the United Nations insists that Israel give the territory back. Golda visits Africa to set up an exchange program between Africa and Israel. While she is there, she is inducted into the Secret Women's Society of Africa. Ariel, Golda's longtime friend, asks her to marry him. However, he dies before she can give him an answer. Soon after, Golda learns that she has lymph cancer. She keeps her illness a secret and retires two years later. However, in the spring of 1967, as enemy troops line Israel's borders, Golda is appointed Secretary General. During the Six Day War, Israel takes the Western Wall. Two years later in 1969, the Prime Minister dies and Golda is asked to take his place. Meir's illness worsens, but she continues to work. She convinces a United States senator to sell her the best arms available. Though Golda feels that Israel should mobilize for war, her military experts assure her that no war is coming. Unfortunately they are wrong. On Yom Kippur, troops begin to gather against Israel. Prime Minister Meir decides that Israel should not strike first. Once the war is instigated, it takes nine days for a United States airlift to reach Israel. By the sixteenth day of the war, Israel is triumphant and the Soviet Union asks for an armistice. The people of Israel, however, turn against Golda and her administration because of the massive casualties the country has suffered. She decides to resign. After Golda is finished talking to the youngsters, she returns to Israel to greet Anwar Sadat, who has decided to begin peace talks. A few months later, Meir dies. Includes footage of Jerusalem in 1948 and various battles between Israel and the Arab Legion. Includes scenes from the previous part and a promo.

(Ingrid Bergman won a postumous Emmy Award as Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series or Special for this performance.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Hearst Corporation, 1998.

Details

• NETWORK: Syndicated
• DATE: May 3, 1982 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:39:32
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T85:0734
• GENRE: Docudrama
• SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Docudrama; Drama, historical; Israel - History; Israel - Politics and government; Palestine - History -- 1929-1948
• SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV, 1982
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Promos - "Smiley's People"

CREDITS

• Harve Bennett … Executive Producer
• Gene Corman … Producer
• Alan Gibson … Director
• Harold Gast … Writer
• Steven Gethers … Writer
• Michel LeGrand … Music by
• Anne Jackson … Narrator, Cast, Lou Kaddar
• Ingrid Bergman … Cast, Golda Meir
• Ned Beatty … Cast, Sen. John Durward
• Franklin Cover … Cast, Hubert Humphrey
• Judy Davis … Cast, Young Golda
• Robert Loggia … Cast, Anwar Sadat
• Leonard Nimoy … Cast, Morris Meyerson
• Jack Thompson … Cast, Ariel
• Anthony Bate … Cast, Sir Stuart Ross
• Ron Berglas … Cast, Stampler
• Bruce Boa … Cast, Macy
• de Keyser, David … Cast, David Ben-Gurion
• Barry Foster … Cast, Maj. Orde Wingate
• Nigel Hawthorne … Cast, King Abdullah
• Yossi Graber … Cast, Moshe Dayan
• Louis Mahoney … Cast, the Journalist
• Yehuda Efroni … Cast, Dr. Landau
• Gidon Shemer … Cast, Simcha Dinitz
• Shmuel Atzmon … Cast, Yisrael Galilli
• Gabi Amrani … Cast, Label Lazar
• Oded Teomi … Cast, David Elazar
• Avi Yakir … Cast, Avi
• Natan Cogan … Conductor, Levi Eshkod
• Shlomo Bar Shavit … Cast, Shlomo
• Ilan Dar … Cast, Talmi
• Gila Almagor … Cast, Deborah
• Fred Weisgal … Cast, the Pianist
• Golda Meir
• John Durward
• Hubert Humphrey
• Morris Meyerson
• Abdullah ibn-Husein
• Orde Wingate
• Anwar el- Sadat
• David Ben-Gurion
• Moshe Dayan