Judgment at Nuremberg

Starring:Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Ed Binns, Werner Klemperer, Torben Meyer, Martin Brandt, William Shatner, Kenneth MacKenna, Alan Baxter, Ray Teal, Virginia Christine, Ben Wright, Joseph Bernard (II), John Wengraf, Karl Swenson
Director: Stanley Kramer
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

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Director Stanley Kramer's socially conscious 1961 film tackles the subject of the war crime trials arising out of World War II in an earnest and straightforward fashion, exploring the consciousness of two nations as they struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the Holocaust. Spencer Tracy plays the American judge selected to head the tribunal that will try the suspected war criminals. As he sets about his task, he must confront the raw emotion felt by the German people, and his own notions of good and evil, right and wrong. Regarded as a classic, this stark rendering of one of the most pivotal events in the 20th century features a stellar cast including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, a young William Shatner, and Maximillian Schell, who won an Oscar for his role as counsel for the defense for those charged with crimes against humanity. Judgment at Nuremberg is important viewing not only for the history of film, but for the history of modern times. --Robert Lane

Description

Nominated* for eleven Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Picture, Judgment at Nuremberg is "magnificent" (Los Angeles Times), "continuously exciting" (The New Yorker) andboasts brilliant performances by an all-star cast. American judge Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracy) presides over the trial of four German jurists accused of "legalizing" Nazi atrocities. But as graphic accounts of sterilization and murder unfold in the courtroom, mounting political pressure for leniency forces Haywood to make the most harrowing and difficult decision of his career. *1961: Actor (Maximilian Schell, won); Actor (Spencer Tracy); Supporting Actor (Montgomery Clift); Supporting Actress (Judy Garland); Director; Adapted Screenplay (won); Cinematography (B&W); Art Direction (B&W); Film Editing; Costume Design (B&W).

Customer Reviews:

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-06-27

Long but brilliant, "Judgment" was a box-office sensation, due to director Kramer's sensitive, socially conscious approach, which examines the degree to which people should be held responsible for following orders. The movie includes a host of sterling performances: Schell stands out as the impassioned defense attorney (the part netted him an Oscar), as do Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland, whose tragic characters poignantly mirror the consuming sadness in their real lives. "Judgment" is an absorbing, true-to-life reckoning with the infamous Nazi legacy and the nature of modern justice.

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-05-30

best of actors, powerful messages from an horrific time where geopolitics were driven the world (as of today)............nevertheless, principles of fairness must be imposed above all, to respect life and to sanctioned wrong doings.

All-Around Classic.......2007-05-18

For the Star-Power of the cast alone, this classic is worth adding to your collection. However, as an added bonus, this story provides thought provoking insights into the political and cultural forces at work in post-war Europe and the United States. "Judgement At Nuremberg" is a well-crafted, well-acted, gripping tale about doing the 'right thing', even when it's not easy, and even when it's not obvious.

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-04-04

A masterpiece of great actors exercising their craft amidst the Russian blockade of Berlin in 1948. Those who appreciate history and fine acting will be very pleased at the aspects of both..

An American film made with rare subtlety, especially for 1961.......2007-03-28

I saw this film for the first time a few days ago and it will stay with me a long time. Are you embarrassed to think that you've read and seen enough already about the Holocaust? This film is only tangentially about the Holocaust. It is mostly about how morality shifts depending on who is in power and who wins the war, and how easy it is to accuse others of crimes that most of us under similar circumstances might commit or ignore. It is about standing up and saying out loud that you have made a terrible mistake. It is about not going along with the prevailing winds just because you tell yourself you'll try to do better later.

The film is in black and white, which gives it a semi-docuemtary look,
There are interesting shots, including zoom close ups used to great dramatic effect. The actors never gave better performances, including
Montgomery Clift, Judy Garland, and of course Spencer Tracy. Maxmillian Schell was fifth or sixth in billing for the film, yet he won the Oscar for the thankless role of being a defense attorney for German judges on trial in 1947 for committing crimes against humanity because they worked for and supported the Nazi regime. This was a second-string trial, the famous criminals like Hess had already been tried and convicted. Yet, Spencer Tracy's character, as head of the military court tribunal (written a little too nobly perhaps)takes this trial, and its implications, as seriously as if it had been the first time the issues of complicity and "just following orders" had ever been raised. The film is 3 hours long and yet moves right along, and there are few slow moments. I'm not sure if the Marlene Dietrich character (widow of an executed Nazi general) was essential to the story, but it was entertaining to watch Dietrich and Tracy play off each other. Watch them in the coffee-drinking scene in her apartment. This is still a great film, equally for the story and the issues it raises, and for the cinematic techniques and choices.

Average customer rating:

Judgment at Nuremberg
Judgment at Nuremberg
All-Around Classic
Judgment at Nuremberg
An American film made with rare subtlety, especially for 1961

Judgment at Nuremberg [Region 2]
Starring: Spencer Tracy , Burt Lancaster , Richard Widmark , Marlene Dietrich , and Maximilian Schell
Director: Stanley Kramer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0001P1BTI

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Customer Reviews:

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-06-27

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-05-30

All-Around Classic.......2007-05-18

Judgment at Nuremberg.......2007-04-04

A masterpiece of great actors exercising their craft amidst the Russian blockade of Berlin in 1948. Those who appreciate history and fine acting will be very pleased at the aspects of both..

An American film made with rare subtlety, especially for 1961.......2007-03-28

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