History Film / Spielberg

The values he mentions are specifically discussed in relation to his adaptation of ''Literature/TheColorPurple'', Spielberg suggesting that he did not feel wrong for being a white man to make this movie but that he did a disservice to the UsefulNotes/LGBTCommunity in choosing to tone down the lesbian narrative between Celie and Shug. He does not make excuses for this, though friends of the director remark on how the Spielberg family have been unapologetic advocates for equal rights for all even when it was unpopular; this is supported greatly by the number of queer works produced by and starring his wife Kate (''The Love Letter'', ''A Girl Thing'') and stepdaughter Jessica (''Series/TheLWord'', ''Series/GreysAnatomy''), and is particularly driven home when looking at the time of the film's release and Spielberg openly supporting the women of Hollywood amidst the multiple allegations of industry-colluded sexual harassment, for which he has faced no accusations himself and has instead been hailed as a gentleman in the documentary and in media at the time in late 2017.

* Joanna Johnston (''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/{{War of the Worlds|2005}}'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/TheBFG'')
* Michael Kahn (literally every Spielberg directed or produced film since 1977[[note]]''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/NineteenFortyOne1979'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/{{War of the Worlds|2005}}'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'', and after the documentary ''Film/ThePost'', ''Film/{{Ready Player One|2018}}''[[/note]])

* Creator/KathleenKennedy (''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/{{War of the Worlds|2005}}'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/{{Hereafter}}'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', co-founded Creator/AmblinEntertainment with Spielberg, President of Creator/{{Lucasfilm}})

* Frank Marshall (''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', co-founded Creator/AmblinEntertainment with Spielberg)

* Creator/OprahWinfrey (''Film/TheColorPurple'')

* David Geffen (co-founder of Creator/DreamWorks with Spielberg)

* Jeffrey Katzenberg (co-founded Creator/DreamWorks with Spielberg)

* Rick Carter (''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/WhatLiesBeneath'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'')

* Creator/TomCruise (''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'')

* Joanna Johnston (''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/TheBFG'')
* Michael Kahn (literally every Spielberg directed or produced film since 1977[[note]]''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/NineteenFortyOne1979'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'', and after the documentary ''Film/ThePost'', ''Film/ReadyPlayerOne''[[/note]])
* Creator/JanuszKaminski (''Film/ClassOf61'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'')

* Creator/KathleenKennedy (''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/{{Hereafter}}'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', co-founded Creator/AmblinEntertainment with Spielberg, President of Creator/{{Lucasfilm}})
* David Koepp (''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'')

* Adam Somner (''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'')

The movie is in stark contrast to Spielberg's previous foray into the world of the Nazis, the 1979 [[AdolfHitlarious comedy]] ''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', but also coming off the back of his more recent UsefulNotes/WW2 drama ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'' of 1987. This is credited as part of the maturation process he underwent in the late 1980s as he decided to make the film, as well as explored as a powerful Spielberg film in its own right. There is no mention of his lesser-known 1989 [=WW2=] movie ''Film/{{Always}}''. Spielberg and Creator/RalphFiennes discuss the character of Amon in ''Schindler's List'', and how he had to be [[AdaptationalHeroism presented as a more kind person]] than the real life Nazi because [[FreakierThanFiction how evil the real man and his actions were]], if shown realistically, [[{{Anvilicious}} would have seemed to be too dramatic]] and a stereotypically incurably evil Nazi to be believed, which they feared would distract from the story. They had to give the villain they wanted to be seen as evil some redeeming features that the real man didn't have [[RealityIsUnrealistic in order to be "realistic".]]

* Michael Kahn (literally every Spielberg directed or produced film since 1977[[note]]''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{The Adventures of Tintin|2011}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'', and after the documentary ''Film/ThePost'', ''Film/ReadyPlayerOne''[[/note]])

* Creator/RobertZemeckis (''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', ''Film/WhatLiesBeneath'', ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'')

Though born in the Midwest, Steven Spielberg grew up in Phoenix, UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} -- a state he became as enamored with as the MilitarySuperhero. Here he was part of a very small Jewish population, though occasionally ashamed of his faith. Throughout his childhood he shot short films for fun, living near an airfield and playing adventure with his friends, recreating war scenes. When earning his photography scout badge, his father's still camera broke so he shot a short film, instead. The documentary does not mention his move to California as a high school senior and attending film school, choosing instead to highlight the "boy from Phoenix" nickname awarded him during his various trips to film studios, with various industry staff recounting it almost seemed like he hung around backlots so much that he commandeered an office in editing and the production added him to payroll rather than kicking him off. This turns the romanticism of Spielberg's introduction to filmmaking UpToEleven, highlighting his natural talent and seeming destiny. Sid Sheinberg speaks of his discovery of Spielberg fondly, recounting a then 20-year-old cinephile {{Like a Son|ToMe}}.

* Creator/DanielCraig (''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'')

* Michael Kahn (literally every Spielberg directed or produced film since 1977[[note]]''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', ''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'', and after the documentary ''Film/ThePost'', ''Film/ReadyPlayerOne''[[/note]])
* Creator/JanuszKaminski (''Film/ClassOf61'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'')

* Creator/KathleenKennedy (''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/{{Hereafter}}'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', co-founded Creator/AmblinEntertainment with Spielberg, President of Creator/{{Lucasfilm}})

* Adam Somner (''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'')

* DarkerAndEdgier: Critic Todd [=McCarthy=] notes that his films in the 2000's and beyond are much darker than some of his earlier work, noting that in particular ''Minority Report'' and ''War of the Worlds'' were critiques of TheWarOnTerror.

* Creator/KathleenKennedy (''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', ''Film/{{Poltergeist}}'', ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', ''Film/TheColorPurple'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'', ''Film/{{Always}}'', ''Film/{{Hook}}'', ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/{{Hereafter}}'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/TheBFG'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/StarWars'', co-founded Creator/AmblinEntertainment with Spielberg, President of Creator/{{Lucasfilm}})

* CoolOldGuy: Steven Spielberg seems just about as friendly and {{adorkable}} but driven and intelligent in the present as in the archive footage.

When someone asks you to name a director, you probably say "Creator/StevenSpielberg". But how much do you really know about the inventor of the SummerBlockbuster (''Film/{{Jaws}}'', 1975)? The 2017 {{documentary}} explores the life and career of Steven Spielberg, and how they interlink. It is told through interviews with the man himself, as well as his parents and many famous faces he's worked with through the years.

Archive footage shown, where the people do not themselves otherwise appear in the documentary, includes: Creator/GoldieHawn, Creator/JoanCrawford, Dinah Shore, Marcia Lucas (George Lucas' ex-wife) and Dan Rather behind the scenes of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies, and home movies of Creator/AmyIrving, Theo Spielberg, Creator/JessicaCapshaw, Music/SashaSpielberg, and photographs of Spielberg's other children and extended family.

Spielberg also talks a lot about his family life, revealing to the people who can name seven of his films that he, in fact, has seven children. This may count as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming in the film as the first child he lists is the only one that's technically not his -- Creator/JessicaCapshaw, who he adds that he's extremely proud of. Despite this, there is a larger focus on his past relationships with Creator/AmyIrving than current wife Creator/KateCapshaw, who does not appear. However, there are multiple home movie clips of the Capshaw-Spielberg children in the 1990s and 2000s included as archive footage.

* Creator/JohnWilliams (composer to Spielberg)

The movie is in stark contrast to Spielberg's previous foray into the world of the Nazis, the 1979 [[AdolfHitlarious comedy]] ''Film/NineteenFortyOne'', but also coming off the back of his more recent UsefulNotes/WW2 drama ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'' of 1987. This is credited as part of the maturation process he underwent in the late 1980s as he decided to make the film, as well as explored as a powerful Spielberg film in its own right. There is no mention of his lesser-known 1989 [=WW2=] movie ''Film/{{Always}}''. Spielberg and Creator/RalphFiennes discuss the character of Amon in ''Schindler's List'', and how he had to be [[AdaptationalHeroism presented as a more kind person]] than the real life Nazi because [[FreakierThanFiction how evil the real man and his actions were]], if shown realistically, [[{{Anvilicious}} would have seemed to be too dramatic]] and a stereotypically [[CompleteMonster incurably evil Nazi]] to be believed, which they feared would distract from the story. They had to give the villain they wanted to be seen as evil some redeeming features that the real man didn't have [[RealityIsUnrealistic in order to be "realistic".]]

* Creator/JanuszKaminski (''Film/ClassOf61'', ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', ''Film/{{Amistad}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence'', ''Film/MinorityReport'', ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'', ''Film/TheTerminal'', ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds'', ''Film/{{Munich}}'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'', ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin'', ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'', ''Film/WarHorse'', ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'', ''Film/TheBFG'')