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Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

| Drama, War | 18 December 1961 (Sweden)
Judgment at Nuremberg Poster
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3:01 | Trailer
In 1948, an American court in occupied Germany tries four Nazis judged for war crimes.

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

Abby Mann, Abby Mann (based on his original story by)

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark | See full cast & crew »
60
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Top Rated Movies #149 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 25 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Spencer Tracy ... Chief Judge Dan Haywood
Burt Lancaster ... Dr. Ernst Janning
Richard Widmark ... Col. Tad Lawson
Marlene Dietrich ... Mrs. Bertholt
Maximilian Schell ... Hans Rolfe
Judy Garland ... Irene Hoffman
Montgomery Clift ... Rudolph Petersen
William Shatner ... Capt. Harrison Byers
Werner Klemperer ... Emil Hahn
Kenneth MacKenna ... Judge Kenneth Norris
Torben Meyer ... Werner Lampe
Joseph Bernard Joseph Bernard ... Maj. Abe Radnitz
Alan Baxter ... Brig. Gen. Matt Merrin
Edward Binns ... Sen. Burkette
Virginia Christine ... Mrs. Halbestadt
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Storyline

It has been three years since the most important Nazi leaders had already been tried. This trial is about 4 judges who used their offices to conduct Nazi sterilization and cleansing policies. Retired American judge, Dan Haywood has a daunting task ahead of him. The Cold War is heating up and no one wants any more trials as Germany, and Allied governments, want to forget the past. But is that the right thing to do is the question that the tribunal must decide. Written by Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

nuremberg trials | judge | nazi | war crime | courtroom drama | See All (45) »

Taglines:

Once in a generation...a motion picture explodes into greatness! See more »

Genres:

Drama | War

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Burt Lancaster was originally offered the role of Colonel Tad Lawson, but he turned it down. See more »

Goofs

The northwest corner of the concentration camp map, around Belgium and the Netherlands, shows about three extra countries. See more »

Quotes

Emil Hahn: Today, you sentence me! Tomorrow, the Bolsheviks sentence you!
See more »

Connections

Featured in Sid & Judy (2019) See more »

Soundtracks

Notre amour ne peur
(uncredited)
By Ernest Gold
See more »

User Reviews

 
Would a film of that candor have a chance of being made today?
30 April 2007 | by Beaucoul – See all my reviews

I watched "Judgment at Nuremburg" on PBS the other night. I had never seen it before. I expected an empty-headed, Hollywood-style, quasi-melodrama, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even Spencer Tracy, that universally beloved actor whose appeal has always escaped me, gave an honest and heartfelt portrayal of a "simple man" who was also a deeply conflicted judge.

What I liked most about this movie was that it didn't pull any punches, in the manner of other "controversial" films of its time. The defense attorney, superbly played by Maximilian Schell, weaves a simple, but undeniable web of logic:

  • Sterilization of "undesirables," one of the charges against the Nazi war criminals, was at one time condoned by the U.S. courts, and encouraged by none other than Oliver Wendell Holmes. - Numerous leading industrialists in the U.S. contributed to the development of the Nazi war machine. - Encouragement was given to Hitler's expansionism by both Russia and England. - Churchill is quoted as having admired Hitler. - The Vatican actively collaborated with the Nazis.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but it must have taken major cojones to present that kind of message to American filmgoers in 1961. Would a film of that candor have a chance of being made today?

I tend to doubt it.

One further note. The film describes how the Nazis went about stripping the German judiciary of judges who were known for their objectivity, and replacing them with judges who were appointed based solely on their party loyalties.

The mind boggles at the implications and yes, the prescience of this well-written, well-played masterpiece.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is 'Judgement at Nuremberg' based on a book?
Q: How does the movie end?
Q: I must be feeble-minded. I didn't get the feeble-minded test.
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Release Date:

18 December 1961 (Sweden) See more »

Also Known As:

Judgment at Nuremberg See more »

Filming Locations:

Tower of London, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,180
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roxlom Films Inc. See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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