Rescuers 1997-1998

Streisand / Television

“Rescuers” (1997-98)

Graphic for the Rescuers shows
Barbra Streisand's production company Barwood Films produced for Paramount and Showtime Rescuers: Stories of Courage — six separate stories about the forgotten courage of Christians who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The first three aired in 1997-1998 (Two Women, Two Couples, and Two Families.)

Barbra filmed a special introduction to the series in which she said, “Every day we hear stories about man's inhumanity to man. However, today I am very proud to present to you a group of films about man's humanity to man.”
Scenes of Streisand introducing RESCUERS.

The original press release revealed the details behind the scenes:


Barbra Streisand and Cis Corman, president of the director / actress / singer's Barwood Films, have, through Barwood Television, entered into a unique production association with King World Productions Inc. for future longform television ventures, it was announced today by King World Vice Chairman and CEO Michael King.


Barwood made an auspicious entry into the television motion picture field with the Emmy-winning "Serving In Silence: The Magarethe Cammermeyer Story" broadcast on NBC. The company is currently associated with Showtime, CBS and NBC on other projects which will proceed separately from the films entertained in the King World agreement.


"King World is one of the most exciting companies in the entertainment business because it is not bound by conventional rules," Streisand noted. "Their enthusiasm about addressing significant subjects not otherwise explored on television makes this a very attractive partnership, one which hopefully could lead to extension in other areas of entertainment."


"We see King World as a strong, adventurous and supportive partner in the kind of issue-oriented projects Barwood wishes to bring television," Corman stated. "Like our past and current TV undertakings, we hope to utilize the great distribution and development strength of King World to continue to bring to TV viewers subjects of great social urgency."


King declared, "We are very excited to be in business with Barbra Streisand and her company, since they have used her considerable influence and compassionate social involvement to deliver to the public dramatic fare exploring some of the urgent issues of our time, issues whose very controversy has made them rare subjects of TV movies. We hope to help Barwood enlarge the powerful role it can play in making television a more relevant and engaging stage. Needless to say, Barwood's projects always reflect Ms. Streisand's compelling showmanship."
In 2008, Allison Waldman interviewed Jeff Freilich, Executive producer of Rescuers. Freilich gave Waldman his impressions of working with Streisand.

Jeff Freilich: Barbra was funny. Barbra is a micro-manager. Barbra was good training for going back to television. [laughs].

The first person I hired was Peter Bogdonavich, because I knew Peter knew Barbra from What’s Up Doc? I know that Peter and Barbra had a wonderful relationship. Being with Peter for years, I’d see him talking to Barbra once a week, for years. So when I hired Peter, the first thing I said was, “Ok what do you think I should do with Barbra?” and he said “don’t send her a movie until it’s finished because she will give you notes until you die,” so that’s what I did. I’d hire directors, we’d shoot a movie, we’d cut the picture, I’d deliver the picture, I’d send her a copy and Barbra would send me back a really nice note. She really liked it. Barbra was just really supportive and what I need Barbra for was her name, because we needed credibly. We’d tape an introduction that Barbra did, and she was wonderful. She’s a good person. She’s really a good person and she and I both have the same reason for making Rescuers. We both wanted to die knowing that we’d made at least one thing that had some kind of weight to it, that wasn’t just pure entertainment. Rescuers was a series of six films about Christians who did selfless acts of courage during WWII, during the Holocaust, to save the lives of Jews. It took place in France, Belgium, Holland, Hungary, and Germany.
Showtime publicity material, with photos of Peter Bogdanovich on set, and actress Elizabeth Perkins.
End / Rescuers on Showtime 1997-1998
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