Schindler's List (1993)

In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Thomas Keneally (book), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Stars:

Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley

Top Rated Movies #6 | Won 7 Oscars. Another 83 wins & 49 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liam Neeson	...	Oskar Schindler
Ben Kingsley	...	Itzhak Stern
Ralph Fiennes	...	Amon Goeth
Caroline Goodall	...	Emilie Schindler
Jonathan Sagall	...	Poldek Pfefferberg (as Jonathan Sagalle)
Embeth Davidtz	...	Helen Hirsch
Malgorzata Gebel	...	Wiktoria Klonowska (as Malgoscha Gebel)
Shmuel Levy	...	Wilek Chilowicz (as Shmulik Levy)
Mark Ivanir	...	Marcel Goldberg
Béatrice Macola	...	Ingrid (as Beatrice Macola)
Andrzej Seweryn	...	Julian Scherner
Friedrich von Thun	...	Rolf Czurda (as Friedrich Von Thun)
Krzysztof Luft	...	Herman Toffel
Harry Nehring	...	Leo John
Norbert Weisser	...	Albert Hujar

Storyline

Oskar Schindler is a vain and greedy German businessman who becomes an unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric German Nazi reign when he feels compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp, it is a testament to the good in all of us.

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Plot Keywords:

accountant | champagne | villa | womanizer | soap | 

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Taglines:

The List Is Life.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Universal / CAC [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew German Polish

Release Date:

4 February 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schindler's List

Filming Locations:

Józefa, Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$656,636, 19 December 1993

Gross USA:

$96,898,818

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$322,243,445

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

195 min 185 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo Dolby Atmos (25th Anniversary Version)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In October 1980, author Thomas Keneally was on his way back to Australia after a book signing when he stopped en route to the airport to buy a new briefcase in a Beverly Hills luggage shop owned by Leopold Pfefferberg, who had been one of the 1,200 saved by Oskar Schindler. In the fifty minutes Keneally spent waiting for his credit card payment to clear, Pfefferberg persuaded him to go to the back room where the shopkeeper kept two cabinets filled with documents he had collected. Pfefferberg, who had told his story to every writer and producer who ever came into his store, eventually wore down Keneally's reluctance, and the writer chose to make the story into his next book.

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Goofs

When Schindler is getting dressed to go to the night club at the beginning of the film he pours a clear liquid into his glass on the table next to the radio and lamp from a Hennessy VSOP Cognac bottle. Hennessy VSOP Cognac has a dark, amber color and wouldn't be clear for any reason.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[a Hebrew prayer is chanted, followed by a flashback to 1940s Poland]
Krakow registrar: Name?

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are shot in black and white.

The Amblin Entertainment logo is absent and in its place instead is the credit: "From Amblin Entertainment".

The MPAA Rated R logo at the end does not have the regular blue background and is shown over the black screen.

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Alternate Versions

In an unprecedented move, when this film was broadcast on US television by NBC in 1997, it was, at Steven Spielberg's insistence, shown nearly uncensored (a sex scene was slightly edited) with all violence and nudity intact. It was the first program to air with the then new "TV-M" (now "TV-MA") rating. See also: Saving Private Ryan.

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Connections

Referenced in Murder One: Chapter Eight (1995)

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Soundtracks

Meine Lippen, Sie Küssen So Heiss
(uncredited)
from operetta "Giuditta"
Music by Franz Lehár
(plays workers welcome Schindler, then kisses to girls)

User Reviews

A film for all to see....and learn.

" I....pardon you."

These words spoken by Amon Goethe (Ralph Fiennes) during the film can be aptly used to signify the themes of this film: power and forgiveness.

I am part of the post war generation who has been lucky enough not to experience any major war. And after watching this film, I have deep respect and feelings for those who suffered during these times, be it the Holocaust or the Nam war. This film was just waiting to be made and I'm glad it was the right man who dared to take up the challenge. Any other person would not have done it justice.

The film focuses on how a German named Oskar Schindler saved the lives of thousands of Jews by employing them to work in his factory during WWII. However, I feel the film's primary aim is not to show us Schindler's kindness but the horrors of war. There are some of the most true and graphic scenes here ever captured on celluloid. People being shot for no particular reason, hiding in fear, stripped and gased, abused......so much so that viewers watching it for the 1st time will be deeply affected. We have never got to see this "flip side" of the war in many Hollywood productions which only focuses on action and their unrealistic "gung-ho" heroes. ( Another excellent film would be "Saving Pte Ryan" by Spielberg again ) War and its horrors are finally and faithfully recreated for the audience.

Like the film Raging Bull, its shot beautifully in black and white to reflect the era and tone of the film. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes are excellent, esp the latter for his frightening protrayal of Amon Goethe. The scene where they discuss about power is a classic and the subsequent one where Amon 'pardons' a young jew remains as one of my many favs!