Review of Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) by Mannie L — 16 Aug 2008

Classic by all accounts. Spencer Tracey (head judge of the court) and Maximilian Schell (head defense attorney) are absolutely riveting in the story of the trial of the Nazi judiciary (in reality, as well as the story, these trials followed by a year or two the major war crimes trials that most are familiar with).

Burt Lancaster gives a restrained but solid performance as the head Nazi judge on trial. Loaded with other stars, including an aging (late career) Judy Garland as a Jewish witness who is emotionally beat up by both prosecution and defense.

Monty Clift turns in a wonderful performance as a mentally-challenged man who, like Garlands character was affected first hand by the Nuremberg Laws the judges are (in part ) on trial for. Watch for smaller but solid performances by Richard Widmark (as the head US prosecutor), Marlene Dietrich (as Md.

Bertholt, widow of a former Nazi general from whom Tracey rents a his housing and eventually befriends), and William Shatner (as an US Army Captain who serves as Tracey's batman - in a remarkably restrained performance, at least compared to his later work on TV's Star Trek).

The film is beautifully shot and acted but gets a little long in places. Just over 3 hrs in length but often feels longer still. Yet this is a classic by all definition.