Watch Ellis Island (1997) : Full Movie Online Free Mandy Patinkin hosts this documentary tribute to the Isle of Hope which welcomed millions of America's immigrants for half a century. For most, Ellis Island was once America's Golden Door. Interviews from the Ellis Island Oral History Project recount the trials, joys, and sadness of immigration experiences, including the possible rejection on entry, while historians explore the island's history, symbolism, and sometimes insensitive policies.