Judgment At Nuremberg  Argumentative drama At its best!

Rating: Null/10 (25 February 2005)

In the finest tradition of great courtroom dramas, this qualitative movie occupies a paramount position. This fictionalized trial is based on the real trials against Nazis, which took place in various parts of Europe, soon after World War II. The trial circumstances are extremely delicate. The four accused did not commit any crime, nor were they a part of the upper-echelons of power. They were in fact judges, middlemen; just assigned for the task that Hitler desired them to do.
In this boiling situation, American Judge, Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracey), reaches Germany to lead a tribunal to determine their fate. While the whole world is watching the trial with bewildering raw emotions, he must confront his own notions of good and bad, right and wrong. Col. Tad Lawson (Richard Widmark), prosecution attorney, places his convincing arguments, by showing sorrowful holocaust visuals. The equally salubrious Hans Rolfe (Maximilian Schell), a defense attorney, appears on behalf of accused, with his emotionally touching arguments.
As the arguments cross, phase-by-phase, the on-lookers on the dais are shell-shocked about their upsetting past. Above all, the prosecution witness Rudolph Petersen (Montgomery Clift) and defendant judge Dr. Ernst Janning's (Burt Lancaster) emotive testimonies makes it a difficult task for the judges, who are already overwhelmed by the proceedings.
On the other hand, the Cold War is heating up and no one wants any more trials and everybody wants to forget the past. But, whether that's the right thing to do, is the question that the tribunal must decide Nominated for 11 Categories, the movie won 2 Oscars and 2 Golden Globes out of 3 nominations.
They say big actors need big theaters to showcase their fullest potential. Undeniably, this is one such stage and the artistes too excel. The Nuremberg trials were the first war crime trials in modern history, and later they were published as blue series, green series and red series, by the US.
A scene, where Spencer Tracey walks in the ruined city and at one place visualizes the Hitler's speech, is a master touch. Abby Mann's script was built upon no ostentatious word play, but sensitively constructed evocative arguments. The effective black and white photography and highly rated set pieces are the other factors that make this an eternal classic.
This seminal work of the master craftsman gives hope to the marginalized people, who are suppressed, oppressed and therefore depressed.