Spencer Tracy: The Greatest Actor

Rating: 10/10 (17 February 2020)

Stanley Kramer Produced and Directed this movie nd gathered an understatement an all star cast. While a UA movie that studio had no production facilities and usually filmed at the Goldwyn studio (Some Like It Hot, I Want to Live, The Apartment, Kiss Me Stupid etc), Kramer filmed this truly great movie at Universal. There were location scenes done in Berlin. The black and white photography is splendid.
The story is about the Nuremberg trials after WW2 and first billed the Star I feel was the greatest actor of his era Spener Tracy, along with Tracy was Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Montgomery Clift and Judy Garland in a dramatic role that should have won Judy an Oscar. Max Schell a German Actor is brilliant in this film and was nominated along with Tracy in the lead category Schell won and thanked Tracy for his support on the film.
Tracy gives a 10 minute speech at the end of the film..He is the US Presiding Judge. Kramer was astute in casting the great Tracy as he exhibited the moral authority to pass judgment on the war criminals. Tracy gave his speech in one take memorizing the script and got a standing ovation from the cast and crew and others working at Universal who visited the stage to see Tracy act.
Marlene Dietrich a German star who supported the Allies is memorable in a small role.
Hollywood has no stars of the stature of Spencer Tracy, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and the other cast members. As noted by other reviewers a handsome young man seen fleetingly is William Shatner in a small role.
I am practicing Roman Catholic, but I saw this movie on cable at the JCC in New Orleans with survivors of the Holocaust. Shattering!