Customer Reviews
Why did we fight the war? - By: Peter Wade, 05 Jan 2009 
Why did we fight the war?
It is easy when the war is on everyone knows what the mission is. that is win the war. When it finishes the allies decided to try the Nazis for war crimes.
This is a harrowing film as they try to put the Nazi judges on trail. They were part of the establishment that backed Hitler & as a result gave his regime legitimacy. It is harrowing because we know that if we were putin the same position we would have great difficulty not going along with what happens.
We do it now. We invade Iraq & whether it was legal or not we are all responsible as it is our government that did it with our compliance. We voted themin & we are a democracy.
This is a very emotional film but it is overly long & wordy as one would expect from a film mainly setin a court room.
The defence counsel tries to implicate the rest of the worldin Hitlers crimes but he has a point as he could not have done it all on his own. I constantly remind people now just because everyone agrees with something doesn't make it a good idea.
After all everyone agreed with the Nazis when they werein power.
A great film but overlong & heavy going. You are going to have a good constitution if you are going to watch it again but worth a good look.
Brilliant insight into the human psyche! - By: B. Hackner, 12 Aug 2008 Superb! One of the best films on the Holocaust I have ever seen!
Featuring an all star cast of Spencer Tracy, Judy Garland (Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz), Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, & Richard Widmark, this courtroom drama comes to life.
The theme of the film is "Who was responsible for the Holocaust?" An American solider who liberated a concentration camp can never forget the horror that met his eyes & is determined to ensure that justice is done. The Germans' case is very well presented throughout the film.
The film rightfully won several oscars, including Best Actors.
The film shows actual footage from the concentration camps. Notwithstanding that parts of it are hard to watch & confront, however
the film's message of ensuring that justice is done to those responsible is timeless. We must never forget so that we won't allow it to happen again!
will grip you start to finish - By: Red Rose, 09 Feb 2008 Maximillian Schell plays a young German lawyer, who has the task of defending four nazi judges at the Nuremberg trials. Richard Widmark plays the prosecution council, who never gives up. Spencer Treacy does a star turn, as the fair minded senior judge who just 'wants to understand'.
The film gives both sides a fair showing. The defence council's job becomes even harder, when one of the defendents, Burt Lancaster, decides to say he is guilty, & so are his colleagues. The problem is, that many people worldwide think that he isn't. Marlene Dietrich is the romantic interest for Spencer Tracey, she also believes Burt Lancaster to be not guilty. It transpires laterin the film that her husband was executed at a previous trial, thanks mainly to Richard Widmark.
Long before the end of the film, the judge starts to find himself under pressure, due to events outside of the trial. Will he allow himself to be influenced by this ?? This is all marvellous staff !!
Mongomery Clift & Judy Garland are two of the victims of nazi rule, that are asked to give evidence at the trial, but will they attend ?? Watch out for a young William Shatner (star trek) & a brief cameo from Burgess Meredith (rocky & batman). Maximillian Schell won an Oscur for his barn storming performance.
See if you agree with the verdicts for each of the accused.
An unforgettable compelling movie - By: Mr. Kenneth J. Hodges, 01 Jan 2008 This is a superb film & isin my top ten movies of all time. Stanley Kramer made some good ones but this was his best work. Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Maximilian Schell, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland,Montgomery Clift,Marlene Dietrich, they dont come any finer than this, & they all give rivetting performances. This is a long film, but it doesn'matter. Time goes quickly when something has substance. Another reviewer has suggested that this is for a rainy day, but this film can be watched & enjoyed anytime. I have just written this review after seeingin New Years Eve, having had several drinks. I stayed with it until the finish,around 2.50am, even although I seen it several times before, & never nodded off once. Quite an achievment for me at that time of the morning. TEN STARS.
A great film for a rainy day in November... - By: PM, 09 Jun 2004 This is a dark film about a dark subject, but don't be put off. It is also a stunning film that will grip you from beginning to end. The cast-list reads like a who's who of celluloid star quality: Spencer Tracey, Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland & others. All directed by the wonderful Stanley Kramer. Tracey plays a US judge at the Nuremberg Trials, who must sitin judgment over a group of Nazis accused of war crimes. With the new reality of the Cold War, there is pressure on the court to show leniencyin order to win over the German peoplein the new struggle between East & West. It is a deeply troubling film that poses the question - did ordinary Germans know what was really happening, & if they did, where does culpability lie? Maximilian Schell plays a young German lawyer who argues that men cannot be found guilty for merely being loyal to their government; Lancaster plays one of the accused who argues for his own condemnation: 'I made my life excrement, because I walked with them'. All of the performances are excellent & some are among the most powerful you will ever see on celluloid. This is a great film for a rainy dayin November.
