Review of Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) by Stephen C — 17 Feb 2014

Its easy now for most so called film critics to pour scorn on the films of Stanley Kramer buts its worth remebering that these films were powerful and conatined acting of the highest calibre.

This film proves that point and its easy to see why filmakers such as Steven Spielberg see Kramer as a Pioneer in the filed of message movies.

The film follows the trial of 3 judges who during the reign of Hitler sent inoscent civilians to be sterilised or worse to there deaths in concentration camps.

Spencer Tracy playes the jusge assinged to the case who is also drawn to Nuremberg and Marlene Ditetrich as a widowed ex Nazi..

The Judges in the dock are lead by Burt Lancaster as Ernst Janning a cultured man who says little but belives his cause was just.

Filmed on location one gets the feel of Kramers message right from the start as the film tried to tread an even path between those tryin the case and those on trial.

Kramer also has some fine actors to deliver the message Tracy is masterly as aman first and a judge second,Burt Lancaster is understated as Janning but his speech towards the end of the film is electrifyng .

Add to this Montgomery Clift as a traumatised concentration camp survivor and Judy Garland as a woman who falls in love with the wrong man and pays a heavy price and you get a lesson in powerful film acting .

The 3 hour running time is just right and the film never feels laboured at any turn .

The best fact about this film is Kramer would then turn his hand to comedy which shows that Kramer was more than just sonme workaday director.