Nuremberg
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Movie Reviews of Nuremberg
Movie Review: "A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY"-Justice Robert Jackson
Summary: 5 Stars
The Nuremberg Trials: Major War Figures Trial November 21, 1945
"The privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating, that CIVILIZATION cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it CANNOT SURVIVE THEIR BEING REPEATED. That four great nations, flushed with victory and stung with injury stay the hand of vengeance and voluntarily submit their captive enemies to the judgment of the law is one of the most significant tributes that Power has ever paid to Reason."
That lengthy quote, part of an even lengthier speech, is mouthed verbatim by Mr. Justice Jackson (Alec Baldwin). What I love most about this film is its adherence to historical details about this first of thirteen trials in Nuremberg. The 21 defendants to this trial, named the Major War Figures Trial, are seated precisely in the order they were in during the original trial with Goering seated conspicuously in the corner. The Nazi defendant Kaltenbrunner's character, who was the friend who introduced the Nazi party to the infamous Adolph Eichmann (executed in Jerusalem in 1961), has the height, (he was 6'6") and scar on his left cheek. Indeed, the 21 defendants' personalities, behaviors, looks, are all effectively recreated in the cast who play them. Alec Baldwin is practically the only American on the cast. Most of the rest are Canadian. I believe Baldwin helped produce this TV miniseries which first appeared on TNT. Brian Cox, as others have noted, was fab as Goehring, playing him as the clever, cunning, and charming Reichsmarschall he was, who entertains naive U.S. soldiers and whose seeming lightheartedness to the whole affair presents problems to the prosecutors and military in charge of him. Eleven of the 21 defendants were sentenced to death, the rest given prison sentences. Goehring, the day before their executions on October 16, 1946, swallowed cyanide smuggled in probably by his American military guard. At first, I was disappointed with this film, I had seen Judgment at Nuremberg right before, yet watching it again and doing some net research, I must say that it is good, although somewhat inferior, yet worthy of five stars for content, its faithful reproduction of this trial. I was most impressed by Matt Craven who plays the Army's psychologist, Captain Gilbert, in charge of the defendants. His interrogations of and interactions with those men added a dimension that was lacking in the first film, revealing the thought processes of these most notorious criminals; some of them find out that he is jewish. It was during this trial, the original War Criminals Trial, that the actual footage of concentration camp atrocities was shown; the film shown in this movie and Judgment at Nuremberg is that same film taken by allied soldiers liberating the camps.
The movie is based on the book Nuremberg:Infamy on Trial by Joseph Persico.
Movie Review: The crimes of war
Summary: 5 Stars
A new precedent was set in the months following the conclusion of World War II: the Nazis in charge of putting the holocaust into motion were to be tried as criminals. This was new legal ground that needed to be conquered by attorneys operating under a brand new set of judicial rules. The household name for the proceedings would come to be known as simply the Nuermberg trials.Given the fact that there were 20+ defendents, there were two ways the makers of this movie could have taken. The first would be to do an in-depth re-creation of each & every Nazi's case. Of course, the film would then end up being twice as long as I, CLAUDIUS.
Or, they could focus on one major character and have the rest of the personages blend into the background. This is what they did. The primary Nazi whose career is examined in detail is the leader of the Luftwaffe: Hermann Goering. Meanwhile, the likes of Rudolph Hesse, Karl Dönitz and the rest play more-or-less an incidental role in the film.
The direction and acting is exceptional in this rendition of one of the 20th century's darkest hours. Christopher Plummer is excellent as the thoughtful yet fervent British legal representative. Brian Cox plays a riveting Reichmarshal Goering and the usually stoic Alec Baldwin turns in one of the better performances of his career.
This is a terrific (albeit depressing) movie about a pivotal moment, not just in the 20th century, but in all of human history. Perhaps we have finally come to the point where we will no longer tacitly condone the despotism of madmen, or the insane paroxysms of the mob. Never again can we think of genocide as a "solution" to anything. Rather, genocide itself is a problem that REQUIRES a solution.
I recommend this film to everyone over the age of 18. It is so important that I wish everyone would see it at least once. Even if you don't care for the acting, the direction, the script, etc., the film is STILL worth watching for the message it conveys and the history that it recounts.
Movie Review: Excellent flick
Summary: 5 Stars
I've watched this movie several times. I can't speak completely to the accuracy of all the details since I haven't studied that trial, but the producers, director, actors, etc seems to have done a great job of taking a VERY complicated subject and reducing it to its basic themes within a couple of hours. Baldwin, the guy playing Goering, and Christopher Plummer (as an elder statesman/barrister) are great.
Would have been interesting to see more focus on the more obscure Nazi leadership, but thats probably unrealistic in a film like this. So the focus tends to be on Goering and Albert Speer. The settings are realistic and proper attention was paid to uniforms and background fixtures. Also, the courtroom scenes where film footage of concentration camps is played for the court reminds that the trial is a true story about a real tragedy...
I usually don't care for "lawyer movies" but this one is exceptional in my opinion.
Movie Review: Nuremberg
Summary: 5 Stars
The term "No one is above the LAW" comes to life when you see this great movie,of course,based on true story. Just a few,but more than enough Nazi's who were high officials of Hitler's regime are brought to justice and they were all captured by heroic U.S. soldiers (as always).Chief Justice R.Jackson (Baldwin) is appointed to go to Nuremberg to preside over the sentencing of these Nazi beasts who (most of them) were more than proud over their horrible crimes done during the Holocaust. Chief Justice R.Jackson,offers them a fair trial because if he didn't, that would have been as unfair as what Nazi's done to the Jews.
Then...the trial of the century begins.
I must have watched this movie about fifteen times,in a way it helps me and it is always so pleasant to see that there is such thing as international justice in this world after all - thanks to U.S.A. all of the times.
Movie Review: Nuremburg- The Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
What a excellent movie. I first saw it on TNT a few years back. If you are expecting all gore and films of concentration camps don't buy this movie. There is one scene in the court room of actual footage. This film is about the politicking that went on during the trial, the change of questioning strategies to get the Nazi's to fess up to what they did and somewhat of a psychological profile of "why" these people did what they did. Excellent acting by all!!!!
Greg