Well-Crafted Courtroom Drama

Rating: 9/10 (20 August 2012)

In 1948, an American court in occupied Germany tries four Nazi judges for war crimes.
Never mind the all-star cast of Judy Garland, Burt Lancaster, Spencer Tracy and a surprisingly adequate William Shatner. While all of these folks did a fine job, they were overshadowed by the power of the script itself.
The Nuremberg trials were an important historical event, and a fascinating event in the history of law. This film does a fine job pointing out both sides of the argument. On one side, you have people who may be guilty of atrocities because of what they did not do but could have. And on the other side, you have the argument that it is not a crime to follow orders.
Indeed, the real question is why were the Germans on trial with the answer being they lost the war. One defendant says that next the Soviets will judge America. Of course, this did not happen, but could have. Was the atomic bomb justified? Was it legal? Is it legal to have a trial where the laws are written after the crimes are committed? These are big, important questions and the film tackles them excellently.