Spielberg: A director's life reflected in film

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Steven Spielberg: I missed my dad a lot growing up, even though we were together as a family. My dad was really a workaholic. And he was always working.

Leah Adler: They were not close. You-- you were always so involved.

Arnold Spielberg: I was busy at work.

Steven had trouble fitting in: he wasn't a good student, and wasn't good at sports. He was bullied.

Steven Spielberg: I was a nerd in those days. Outsider. Like the kid that played the clarinet in the band and orchestra, which I did.

Leah Adler: We lived in an all non-Jewish neighborhood. These people used to chant, "The Spielberg's are dirty Jews." And one night, Steve climbed out of his bedroom window and peanut buttered their windows, which I thought was marvelous.

Lesley Stahl: Do you remember what you did?

Steven Spielberg: I took Skippy peanut butter and smeared it all over their windows.

Lesley Stahl: Yeah.

Steven Spielberg: Did she say that to you?

Lesley Stahl: Yes, she did.

Steven Spielberg: She told you that?

Lesley Stahl: She told us that.

Steven Spielberg: OK. I guess this is-- I guess right now we're beyond the statute of limitations, so I can't get sued for vandalism.

Lesley Stahl: But, you came under some serious anti-Semitic attacks. How did you react? How did you deal with it?

Steven Spielberg: I denied it for a long time.

Lesley Stahl: Denied what? That--

Steven Spielberg: My Judaism.

Lesley Stahl: --you were Jewish? Oh.

Steven Spielberg: Uh-huh (affirm).

Lesley Stahl: Were you ashamed?

Steven Spielberg: Uh-huh (affirm). I often told people my last name was German, not Jewish. I'm sure my grandparents are rolling over in their graves right now, hearing me say that. But I think that-- you know, that I was in denial for a long time.

Lesley Stahl: So when people say that a lot of your movies are about outsiders, that's what you must've felt.

Steven Spielberg: Oh, yeah. I was an outsider for all-- most of my formative years.

What saved him was a camera he got from his dad.

When he was 16 he made his first talkie called "Firelight." A science fiction thriller he produced, directed, wrote, edited and showed at the local movie theater.

Lesley Stahl: You obviously got a lot of approval for these early films. You got a lot of attention. Was that what motivated you to go on with it? Was that, "Oh my God, I'm finally being accepted?"

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by WandM87 October 22, 2012 11:29 AM EDT: Do we really need another presentation of Lincoln the Myth? Instead of gushing over another Hollywood liberal, how about asking some questions about his historical vision? Does this film mention Lincoln's support of the Corwin Amendment which would have prohibited any amendment to the U. S. Constitution that abolished or interfered with slavery or Lincoln's stated belief that the federal government should not interfere with the domestic institutions of the states? Does the film cover Lincoln's suppression of the press and dissent in the north? Is Clement Vallandigham mentioned?
No president ever double talked as much as Lincoln and the result was 700,000 American deaths. Would Sixty Minutes let any modern Republican get away with such contradictory statements and actions?
Thus always to tyrants.; Reply to this comment

by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:32 PM EDT

Spielberg is not German.

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by maiingan October 22, 2012 11:26 PM EDT: Yes, it is in the German language.


by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:10 PM EDT: Does Spielberg know of he be doing against himself?
Creation of a movie about an American president, be so irrelivant, in comparison to Steve's past history.
As such a movie will not share with his descent.
In comparison to Steve's past movies.
Which be why they be titled such: so to remain with the ancestry of Spielberg.
I say all my above, as someone who supports that Spielberg finally made a change.

The $ results of the 'Abraham Lincoln' movie, likely not be as successful.; Reply to this comment


by fiddlerlady October 21, 2012 9:48 PM EDT: Why was Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Team of Rivals, not mentioned even once in the story?; Reply to this comment

by maiingan October 21, 2012 9:07 PM EDT

Thanks for an excellent segment, CBS. Memo to Steven Spielberg: the surname "Spielberg" IS German. The fact that many Jews have it doesn't remove it from the realm of the German language. There is a lot of history and some uncertainty about the complete etymology of this, as well as many other surnames. Judaism is a religion, not a language.

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by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:20 PM EDT: All names that end in "berg" are Jewish.
Where are YOUR sources?
Steve "Spielberg" = Jewish. Proven even more via the high amount of $$$$$$$.
As I tried to say in my above comment: why be it that so many of Steve's movies resulted in having Jewish words WITHIN THE TITLE.

(so that make total of 2 Jewish names, when added to Steve's last name)


by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:23 PM EDT: "berg" is Jewish.


by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:25 PM EDT: "berg" is NOT German.


by sarcastical October 21, 2012 11:27 PM EDT: "berg" is NOT.

by redstone33442 October 21, 2012 9:00 PM EDT

This guy is really screwed up and blames it all on his parents. Then he says he forgives them. What a pompous ass. Typical Lib. Whatcha bet the 'Lincoln' film somehow finds a way to attack conservatives.

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by katroyer October 21, 2012 10:38 PM EDT: I came away from watching this thinking--how amazing that this 'kid' who was bulllied for being a jew & a nerd & confused about his parents' divorce turned these negative aspects of his life into a career which is rewarding,successful & brings millions of people joy. Screwed up? You're the one who is pathetic, mr. conservative, like most of your ilk, you can only make hateful comments about the story. That's what's wrong w/you right-wingers--you're so filled with hate and paranoia--you're always looking for someone to tear down, so you can feel good about yourself.