Never Forget (TV 1991)

A dramatization of a holocaust survivor who confronted a holocaust denial organization's lies in court.

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writer:

Ronald Rubin

Stars:

Leonard Nimoy, Dabney Coleman, Blythe Danner

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonard Nimoy	...	Mel Mermelstein
Dabney Coleman	...	William Cox
Blythe Danner	...	Jane Mermelstein
Paul Hampton	...	Richard Fusilier
Jason Presson	...	Bernie Mermelstein
Juliet Sorci	...	Edie Mermelstein (as Juliet Sorcey)
Nicholas Fee	...	David Mermelstein
Benji Gregory	...	Kenny Mermelstein (as Ben Gregory)
Hanna Hertelendy	...	Elsie Smolena
David Margulies	...	Rabbi Hier
Thomas Bellin	...	Rabbi Cooper
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Ms. Teitler
Leslie Morris	...	Schorr
Beverly Hope Atkinson	...	Lorraine
Thomas Keena	...	Judge Johnson

Storyline

This film tells the story of Mel Mermelstein, a Jewish survivor of the Nazi Holocaust who was angered and horrified at the gall of the Institute for Historical Review, a neo nazi organization dedicated to claiming the Holocaust never happened. Although itching to challenge them, he is initially disuaded by the fact that the organization's standard tactic is to post a reward to anyone who can prove the Holocaust's occurance, then ignore all petitioners and claim that no one has presented any proof, thus ensuring themselves publicity and credibility. That reluctance is removed when a friend notes that this kind of lying represents a breach of contract, leaving the organization open to a lawsuit. Using this bold legal strategy, Mermelstein presents his proof, the IHR takes the bait and Mermelstein takes them to court. Now, Mermelstein must battle the neo nazis not only in court, but outside as well as they try to intimidate him to drop a case that would lead the legal recongition of the ...

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Plot Keywords:

holocaust | neo nazi | survivor | holocaust survivor | jewish | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Condanna

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nimoy/Radnitz Productions, Turner Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Real Life Drama

This film was created after a $17 million lawsuit alleging "injurious denial of established fact." The IHR settled out of court, and signed an apology. The apology was to Mermelstein, for extending the IHR gas chamber reward offer to him in full knowledge that Mermelstein was traumatized by the Concentration Camp.

The IHR gas chamber reward (which requires hard evidence) was never pursued by Mermelstein. The IHR gas chamber reward is no longer offered, since it proved to be more of a lawsuit magnet than PR tool.

The judge ruled: 'Under Evidence Code Section 452(h), this Court does take judicial notice of the fact that Jews were gassed to death at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland during the summer of 1944,' and 'It just simply is a fact that falls within the definition of Evidence Code Section 452(h). It is not reasonably subject to dispute. And it is capable of immediate and accurate determination by resort to sources of reasonably indisputable accuracy. It is simply a fact.'

In 1988 Mermelstein brought another suit against IHR, which he lost.