Never Forget (TV 1991)A dramatization of a holocaust survivor who confronted a holocaust denial organization's lies in court. Director:Joseph SargentWriter:Ronald Rubin |
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Never Forget (TV 1991)A dramatization of a holocaust survivor who confronted a holocaust denial organization's lies in court. Director:Joseph SargentWriter:Ronald Rubin |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Leonard Nimoy | ... |
Mel Mermelstein
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| Dabney Coleman | ... |
William Cox
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| Blythe Danner | ... |
Jane Mermelstein
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Paul Hampton | ... |
Richard Fusilier
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Jason Presson | ... |
Bernie Mermelstein
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| Juliet Sorci | ... |
Edie Mermelstein
(as Juliet Sorcey)
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Nicholas Fee | ... |
David Mermelstein
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| Benji Gregory | ... |
Kenny Mermelstein
(as Ben Gregory)
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Hanna Hertelendy | ... |
Elsie Smolena
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| David Margulies | ... |
Rabbi Hier
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Thomas Bellin | ... |
Rabbi Cooper
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| Tracy Brooks Swope | ... |
Ms. Teitler
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Leslie Morris | ... |
Schorr
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Beverly Hope Atkinson | ... |
Lorraine
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Thomas Keena | ... |
Judge Johnson
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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 ... Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>
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.