Introduction
Judgment at Nuremburg is an American film released in 1961, which deals with the mass killings of civilians and geo-political complexity of Nuremburg during post-World War II scenario. The film is directed by Stanley Kramer and written by Abby Mann. The starring cast includes Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Spencer Tracy, and other famous film stars of that time.
Analysis
Judgment at the Nuremburg is based on a trial, which was one out of series of trials conducted by an international tribunal at Nuremburg Germany. Spencer Tracy performed the role of a judge named Dan Haywood. The basic purpose of these trials was to prosecute those persons who were involved in crimes against humanity. The plot of the film revolves around the circumstances during World War II and their affects on the society. Especially the brutal genocide and extent of the merciless persecution of European Jews is strongly felt by the audience. Moreover, the film relates to the inhuman acts of German government against its own people, based on social, racial and religious diversities (Asimow N.p.).
The theme of the movie challenges the authenticity of these actions taking into consideration their political, social and legal aspects. As mentioned above, this film is all about a subsequent trial, conducted by the American tribunal at Nuremburg for bringing to justice those Nazi Germans who were involved in war crimes. Hence, the most of the scenes are comprised of a legal proceeding in which prosecution is trying to strengthen their case through arguments and provision of evidence against accused persons. In 1947, a trial against four accused persons was conducted, and they were sentenced to life imprisonment by Nuremburg military tribunal. The key plot of the case is comprised of a trial that portrays race defilement (Asimow N.p.). It was named as ‘Feldenstein case', which was depicted from the original, real-life ‘Katzenberger case'.
In this particular case, an old Jew was sentenced to death, who was accused to have sexual relationship with an (Aryan) German girl. According to Nuremburg laws, it was strictly prohibited for a non-Aryan to indulge in sexual relation with an (Aryan) German girl. The dramatized version of this real life case being included in this movie, with a view to display human conscience, the behavior regarding immoral activities of a particular section of society and responsibility of law in this context (Asimow N.p.). This specific film is an ideal projection of a courtroom drama and flaring arguments of the prosecution. It shows that how a court proceeding in that post-war era was conducted and highlights the individual treachery coupled with moral compromise, which is normally evident in such vicious political upheavals. The film also includes some parts of the actual footage, in which piles of human dead bodies could be seen, which were persecuted by the Nazi government. These terrifying scenes of the movie are the most disturbing part and display the gravity of the situation through which these people were massacred.
Conclusion
This movie is basically a dramatized version of a trial conducted by the American tribunal against war crimes conducted during World War II. After watching the movie, one can easily draw a conclusion that it is much difficult to dramatize the actual events into a film. The screenplay and plot of the film are well executed. The cast has efficiently played their roles in order to give life to the distressed events of the history.
Works Cited
Asimow, Michael. “Judges Judging Judges—Judgment at Nuremberg.” UCLA Law School. N.p., 1998. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
