Nuremberg (2000– )

The dramatized account of the war crime trials following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Stars:

Alec Baldwin, Brian Cox, Christopher Plummer

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Alec Baldwin	...	Justice Robert H. Jackson (2 episodes, 2000)
Brian Cox	...	Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (2 episodes, 2000)
Christopher Plummer	...	Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe (2 episodes, 2000)

Storyline

Following the defeat of Germany in WWII, the Allies determine that there must be an accounting of German war crimes. Twenty-four Nazis, representative of all sections of military and civilian life are chosen to stand trial for the crimes of conspiracy to commit aggression, commission of aggression, crimes during war and crimes against humanity. The preparations for the trial, the trial itself and its aftermath are shown through the eyes of Chief Prosecutor Robert Jackson and through the eyes of Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering, the ranking Nazi defendant.

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Plot Keywords:

nazi | war crime | courtroom | execution | war crimes trial | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Official Sites:

TNT

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

16 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nürnberg

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Communications, British American Entertainment, Canadian Television (CTV)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sam Stone who plays Julius Streicher, is a Jew who's father survived the Holocaust. It was only with the greatest difficulty that he maintained a straight face during the scene where films of Nazi concentration camps are shown in the courtroom. Upon completion of the scene, he immediately burst into tears.

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Goofs

As the camera passes Walter Funk when he pleads, "Nicht schuldig," Albert Speer lowers his headphones onto his shoulders. When the camera returns and it is Speer's turn to plead, the headphones are back over his ears.

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Quotes

Ernst Kaltenbrunner: I never set foot in Mauthausen!

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Connections

Features Triumph of the Will (1935)

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Soundtracks

"Deep in the Heart of Texas"
Written by June Hershey and Don Swander
Performed by cast
Melody Lane Music c/o Peermusic International

User Reviews

Well done film of a difficult theme

My first impression of this film was that it was excellently done. It provoked my curiosity and I am glad to say the film held up under my further investigation of the trials.

The accurate representation of the grayness of a subject most would consider black and white was particularly courageous. It would be easy to paint the Nazis as monsters without souls, but so often terrible things are done by perfectly ordinary people. In fact that is what is so terrible about people's actions in WWII. Malevolence would certainly be easier to accept than what this film shows was at the source of the Nazi behavior -- indifference and lack of empathy. Who hasn't felt indifference toward someone they met in everyday life, the cashier who was too slow, the person in the car ahead, the telemarketer?

The acting was excellent, particularly Brian Cox, who showed us how well charm can mask evil. I did not think Goering was white-washed. This was shown most clearly in his pathetic attempt to shrug off the concentration camp film. Even his manipulative skill couldn't ease that shock, and his American friend was silent. If Alex Baldwin pumped up his drama a little, well, take a look at transcripts of the trial, which are drier than the Sahara. The use of documents was extensive during the trial and how often does the layperson want to hear that? The use of the concentration camp film was a cold dash of water in the face of such dryness. Some other comments question the inclusion of the relationship between Jackson and his secretary. I didn't see it as a "love story", but more as an "adultery story" used to show on a more personal level that despite his side's claim to superior "morals" Jackson was also weak. I think the Soviet involvement and the Polish massacre was left out because it would have been too long to include in all its convolutions. It is an interesting part of the story, however, so I recommend researching it.

I was glad to see on the comments that those who know more than I pointed out its accuracy. Too rarely does Hollywood actually attempt that.