Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Is it any wonder that with a triumphant director, an all-star cast & an out-of-sight screenplay...

...Judgment at Nuremberg is the greatest narrative war-era film in all of American cinematic history.

"Judgment at Nuremberg" is an epic film that completely engulfs the viewer because of the nature and the severity of the subject matter. It is absolutely impossible to say who gave a better performance because the entire cast was perfect. Never has there been another motion picture with so many first-rate stars who all gave the performances of their collective careers.

The film is directed by Stanley Kramer, based on the screen play by Abby Mann. And the main cast includes:
Spencer Tracy / Judge Dan Haywood
Burt Lancaster / Dr. Ernst Janning (defendant/judge)
Richard Widmark / Col. Lawson (prosecuting attorney)
Marlene Dietrich / Mrs. Bertholt
Maximilian Schell / Hans Rolfe (defense attorney)
Judy Garland / Mrs. Irene Hoffman Wallner
Montgomery Clift / Rudolph Petersen (prosecution witness)
William Shatner / Capt. Harrison Byers (Judge Haywood's aide)

The performance of Spencer Tracy does stand out though. After all it's really his film. He was the type of man who didn't need to say very much for anyone to get what he was communicating. His facial and body expressions were just as detailed and expressive as the words that he said. My favorite line was towards the very ends when Judge Haywood told the defense attorney that: just because it's logical doesn't mean that it's right. As far as I'm concerned those are words to live by. And he said them perfectly, it wasn't like some big speech. It was just said very nonchalantly which made it that much more important.

Marlene Dietrich as Mrs. Bertholt was another member of the cast who didn't need to say much because her entire aura said it all. She was probably the premiere entertainer of the golden era and although she has a rather small role in this film it is still one of her very best. Mr. Burt Lancaster was another extraordinary, larger-than-life actor, playing the role of Ernest Janning (one of the defendants). Dr. Jamming said very little until he could take no more and when he finally spoke it was as if the floodgates swung open with all rapidity. Mr. Burt Lancaster is probably the only thespian who is talented enough to give this character such a heart and body and mind and make him appear almost victimized.

The film is over 3 hours long (190 minutes to be exact). Generally when I watch a movie that's more than 2 hours I tend to get restless and start thinking that the editor didn't do his job very well. "Judgment at Nuremberg" though is the perfect length because it tells the entire story, from beginning, to end. Perhaps it's no coincidence that there was a television series that was based on the original screenplay which predates the film.

The performance of Miss Judy Garland is totally her most decisive dramatic role ever. She enters the picture 90 minutes into the film and is only in 3 scenes however she still captures just as much attention as the other stars. Besides her beautiful eyes that she could never hide under any circumstance, you'll almost be unable to recognize her because she looked and sounded so un-Judy Garland. There wasn't a touch of glamour in Irene Hoffman Wallner. Instead she was this scared and almost timid lady who had been beaten down by the ravages of the extreme brutality that was all around her. The second time she took the witness stand was perhaps my favorite part of the entire movie because all of a sudden Mrs. Hoffman Wallner became so transfixed and animated because of that vicious lie that the defense attorney tried to shove down everyone's throats.

"Judgment at Nuremberg" is a larger-than-life, behemoth story that needs to be told because it articulates the effects of what happens when evil is afforded totalitarian. They say sloth is one of the seven deadly sins and after viewing this film I can certainly understand why. It's also an important movie because there is no winner and it doesn't end with a happy ending, (at least as far as I'm concerned I didn't see anything happy in this picture). Instead, it's one of those rare movies which conveys that there's a thin line between man's benevolence and man's utter bankrupt corruption. October 20, 2008

For once, the hype is richly deserved

If you've never seen this film, you're in for a mind-blowing experience in the way of acting, direction, cinematography and script writing. This is the film that finally unhooked Judy Garland from the Rainbow, if you know what I mean. It requires multiple viewings to really appreciate. Try to reserve 3 hours without interuption if you can. September 2, 2008

A Film for All Seasons

Written by Abby Mann, directed by Stanley Kramer, "Judgment at Nuremberg" is one of those rare movies that keeps you in its clutches for a very short three hours. Set in 1948 this 1961 film covers the Nuremberg trials when judges were put on trial for their decisions during Hitler's rule. The acting to an individual is outstanding. Spencer Tracey, who presides over the trials, is an American judge recently turned out of office by the electorate, a rube from Maine who has the uncanny ability to get to the truth. His performance, his facial expressions, his eyes are a joy to watch. Richard Widmark for the prosecution is on fire with righteous indignation at the atrocities the defendants have committed. Maximilian Schell as the attorney for the defense-- he won a much-deserved Academy Award-- attempts to show that his client was only obeying German law. Bert Lancaster gives one of his best performances ever as Ernst Janny, a judge who was just doing his job. Montgomery Clift as a man who has been ordered sterilized by the German judiciary should have won an Academy Award. Judy Garland as a German woman accused of having an affair with an older Jewish man is superb. The ageless and beautiful Marlene Dietrich as the wife of an executed Nazi officer is magnificent. Finally a very young William Shatner recently of the television series "Boston Legal" completes the major players in this timeless film.

Mr. Kramer used actual footage from the concentration camps in this black and white film, much of which-- the outside scenes-- was shot in Germany. Its statement is simple: obeying an unjust and evil law does not excuse anyone, whether or not he is a judge.

Informative interviews with Abby Mann, Maximilian Schell and the wife of Stanley Karmer are included with the DVD. August 6, 2008

Fantastic!!

Judgment At Nuremburg is a great movie in every sense. It is well shot, the plot is moving, and the acting is superb for any era and well beyond almost any acting in film today. The courtroom scenes are full of glowing performances but most especially the performances of Spencer Tracy as (Chief Judge Haywood), Burt Lancaster (as Dr. Ernst Janning), and Maximilian Schell (as Hans Rolfe) were quite simply stunning. Be that as it may, this movie is not for the faint of heart. The subject matter (judges accused of atrocities during the holocaust) is quite graphic and includes actual footage of concentration camps and extermination methods used by the Nazis upon their victims. I found myself hard pressed to keep my eyes on the screen while bulldozers shoved hundreds and thousands of cadavers into mass graves. Many of us, in these modern times, forget how truly awful it was. There are those among us who use terms like "it's worse than what the Nazis did to the Jews" to describe things as trivial and stupid as a parking ticket. This movie explores the question of justice versus law and how, sometimes, those two things can be exclusive. If you feel that you have a strong enough stomach to handle aforementioned documentary footage and you love a good drama film then I highly recommend this movie to you.

P.S. Keep an eye out for a VERY young William Shatner as a courtroom aide! July 7, 2008

How easily we fool ourselves

This old movie is obviously well done but the full impact of it just sank in for me. This is not about how evil the German people were--they were and are no more evil than anyone else. The real message of this film is about how easily we can justify evil behavior when it's sold under the guise of patriotism. And how easily fear and self-interest leads to an inability to "see" the evil. Americans in particular ought to view this film again and again, with their eyes wide open. June 15, 2008

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