A Workshop Classic - The Shopping Bag Lady

The Shopping Bag Lady by Bert Salzman - Award Winning Video; Set In Manhattan's Central Park, this film is the poignant story of a teenage girl's encounter with a homeless old woman (movingly portrayed by distinguished actress Mildred Dunnock) who carries all her belongings around in shopping bags. This encounter eventually leads to the girl's understanding of the problems of aging and the dignity of all individuals, regardless of their place in society. AWARDS: Columbus Film Festival: "Golden Chris Award" and "President's Award " for "Best Film in Festival" Special Prize, International Year Of The Child, American Library Association. Notable children's films awards: American, Birmingham , Chicago and Columbus Film Festivals. Director: Bert Salzman; Producer: Bert Salzman; public domain video.

Dear Friends,
The " Bert Salzman collection of classic 16mm educational films have recently been saved from extinction and are now available for viewing on the Internet Archive. Link: http://www.archive.org/search.php?que...

The films originally made in the early 1970's as human values films for social study classes include the (Academy Award winner Angel And Big Joe and Geronimo Jones (which premiered at the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York City). In his films Bert Salzman tries to instill hope and love into the hearts of young people. His message always was: "Have hope, go deep into your self; You are more than you think you are!".

The Internet Academic Archive is now hosting all of the Bert Salzman Collection and links to the entire collection can be found below. If you enjoy these films please forward this letter to your friends especially educators. From the beginning It has always been Bert's dream, his goal- that his films find their way into every school in this very troubled world and perhaps change it for the better-even in a small way. Bert thanks you in advance for your help in achieving this goal.

Origin Of films: ***
The early to mid-1970s were truly heady times for the educational film world. Fueled by the Johnson administration's "Great Society" philosophy, educational programs embraced themes of ethnic awareness and diversity, and school districts nationwide began demanding professional quality 16mm films that both encouraged and provoked classroom discussion. Learning Corporation of America, was a prime source for these types of films, and the maker of several of its most profound and dynamic films was Bert Salzman. Salzman was already a successful artist before embarking on a career as a filmmaker. In 1970, Linda Gottlieb of LCA asked him to choose three ethnic groups as focal points for his first LCA films. The films he did for LCA eventually ran to eight, including Oscar-winning Angel & Big Joe. Salzman infused each of these films which he wrote and directed with elements essential to great film of any genre: pathos, passion, and humor. Posted with permission from Bert Salzman.