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Rating:  - Thought Provoking Film; Moving Performances
Director Stanley Kramer's classic masterpiece, JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG explores one of the world's darkest periods - World War II and the Holocaust - with a deeply moving plot and stellar performances from a magnificent cast. From screen veterans Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, and Burt Lancaster to relative newcomers, including William Shatner, Maximillian Schell and Werner Klemperer, the film explores the theme of individual complicity in actions of the state, while weaving a complex tapestry of raw emotion, legal, ethical and political nuance, and humanitarian considerations.
The power of the film - not doubt more numbing at its 1961 release, lies not in the sweeping panorama of world events, but in the singular moments of human connection. Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland give small, but significant performances in their roles of victims. Richard Widmark's fiery personality and passionate prosecution is given credence by his singular testimony to the horrors of the concentration camp. Werner Klemperer offers a portrait of a man possessed with a chilling arrogance and strident rationalization of horrors in the name of bureaucratic efficiency. Maximillian Schell offers the conflicted personality of an attorney torn by the horrors of events and fidelity to the notion of a fair trial and preservation of post-war national pride. Burt Lancaster's character is the archetypical "fallen angel," a man who has turned aside from his own principles and now must confront the demons, which have resided in his sould.
For those who hide behind a swell of ignorant patriotism and mindless obedience to irrationality, this film is a chilling testimony of the evil that can occur when good men do nothing in the face of tyranny.
Rating: - A must see movie
Like with all hollyweird movies they leave out stuff and change the story a little. However, I really enjoyed this because it brought that infamous trial to life and did it fairly accurately from what i can tell
Rating: - "Judgment at Nuremberg" and Mahler
I just watched this superb film for the first time today, and I agree with the general consensus about its power, its excellence, the performers, and more. It's hard to single out best performances, since Tracy, Schell, Lancaster, Garland, Dietrich, and Clift all turned in glittering gems. I'd probably rate Schell's as the best major character and Clift's as the best supporting character; his performance left me in tears.
The night before, I was at a concert of Mahler's Ninth Symphony. The raw, sweeping passion in that 87-minute masterpiece evoked many of the emotions that this move did. Anyone else a Mahler fan?
Rating: - OUTSTANDING!!!!
the acting was superb, especially the performance of Montgomery Clift in a tiny role. The morals/values of the story is something so missing in life today. Profoundly moving. This is one of my absolute favorites.
Rating: - Timeless and relevant.
I recently watched this because of the recent death of Richard Widmark and was struck throughout that the issues raised are as timely today as then. Will anyone judge us for turning away from the torture, rendition, preemptive wars, Patriot Act, suspension of habeas corpus, phone taps, surveillance on citizens; obtaining library files, etc.? Will Bush and Cheney brought before a world court for their behavior? Will anyone in the military be brought before a world court for their actions in Iraq, particularly Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo? No.
Will Americans rise up and confront what is being done in their name? No. Are they any better than the Germans who saw nothing and did nothing? No.
Are we becoming a Nazi Germany? See the movie and decide for yourself. I think the answer is yes.
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