Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell  Script: Abby Mann  Cinematographer: Ernest Laszlo Director: Stanley Kramer Plot:  A Southern judge is sent to occupied Germany to oversee a war-crime trial indicting four Nazi judges, chief among them being an internationally respected scholar defended by an eager young lawyer.

Review:

A dramatic re-enactment of one of the many Nuremberg war-crimes trials, Judgment at Nuremberg raises some important questions on the subject of blame and responsibility. The guilt of some of the high-ranking Nazi officers is rarely in doubt, but what about the paper-pushers who advocated Hitler's policies? Were they just doing their jobs as government workers or did they follow willingly in the slaughter of innocents and in the genocide of the Jews and other undesirables? 

This is courtroom drama at its best: there are no easy answers here, no right or wrong, the script aiming for various shades of gray in its recounting of the atrocities and injustices that were engendered by the defendants, with both sides aiming for the high moral ground. Loosely based on factual events, this is a stirring, intense and important work that in large part succeeds in bringing the judicial and legal complexities of the trial to light, while political pressures were put to bear at the same time (even the Americans wanted leniency, or a not-guilty plea to pass to get the support of the German people against the new threat that was Russia).

The issues raised are just as important now, and just as pressing, as they were then, and it's almost impossible not to get riled up all over again over the flagrant disregard for basic humanity that was thrown aside during the Nazi years, lost for the sake of expedience under the excuse of patriotism.

Though clocking in at three hours, thanks to the crackling dialogue and fine, Oscar-winning script the film never feels long-winded and never fails to keep our attention. True, there are a few lagging moments when the story follows the judge visiting the remnants of the city and its people, giving the chance for the film to give audiences a view of post-war Germany, but these are necessary to give an overall perception of the subject. 

Shot in black and white to give the film an added layer of authenticity, director Kramer (On the Beach, Inherit the Wind) keeps the shots clean, the cinematography crisp and precise, keeping the audience focused on the story. 

One heavy-handed sequence occurs when the prosecuting attorney shows off an appalling documentary footage of the concentration camp liberations; it is definitely sickening and shows the atrocities committed by the Nazis, but also jarring in its poor relevance to the main story, like an excuse to present a display to shock viewers. In the end the film can't help but pass judgment on Germany as a whole, showing its claim of innocence as being absurd. 

Tracy, as the grizzled old judge, does another fine career turn. As for Lancaster, he may have little to do for most of the film but sit rigidly, but when he finally takes the stand his monologue is absolutely electrifying. Schell won an Oscar for his powerful role as the young German defense lawyer who passionately argues his case not only for his reluctant client, but for all of the German people as well. The film also boasts a fine cast of legendary actors in supporting roles such as Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift and Marlene Dietrich, all past their prime, but all doing some fine performances. Look out for a good supporting role by none other than William Shatner (of Star Trek fame) before his days of theatrical over-acting.

Judgment at Nuremberg is a compelling, sometimes harrowing and always intense drama that will provide much food for thought and discussion long after the film's end.

Drama: 9/10

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