‘Powerful’ war film ‘should be mandatory viewing’ on BBC iPlayer now | Films | Entertainment

A profoundly significant war film, hailed as ‘mandatory viewing’ by audiences, has landed on BBC iPlayer.

The moving picture was helmed by Stanley Kramer and boasts an stellar ensemble cast including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Werner Klemperer, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, William Shatner and Montgomery Clift.

Released in 1961, Judgment at Nuremberg centres on four German judges who presided over the 1947 trials, during which members of the Nazi regime faced a military tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity.

Chief Justice Haywood (Spencer Tracy) examines evidence and testimony not only from principal defendant Ernst Janning (Burt Lancaster) and his defence counsel Hans Rolfe (Maximilian Schell).

The film also features testimony from the widow of a Nazi general (Marlene Dietrich), an idealistic U.S. Army captain (William Shatner) and reluctant witness Irene Wallner (Judy Garland), reports the Mirror.

Judgment at Nuremberg boasts an impressive 93 per cent rating on film review website Rotten Tomatoes, alongside five-star reviews.

One review said: “It’s rare to see a movie this thoughtful about the dilemmas it’s trying to tackle. Three hours and not a second to long. It’s as relevant today as it was in 1962, now that America is on its way over the fascist cliff. Absolutely gut wrenching and mesmerizing.”

Another viewer added: “This is mandatory viewing, especially in the current political climate. The final scene brings it all together, but you cannot jump straight to it – the narrative and the many fine performances that get you there are all essential. How can good men and women do terrible things? This film answers that question.

“That’s cinema! True masterpiece,” wrote a third.

A further comment read: “This movie proposes fascinating ethical questions. The movie doesn’t claim to have all the answers, instead it allows the audience to be introspective on the matter.

“When evil is done, how responsible are those who are ‘just doing their jobs’? How long can someone remain willfully ignorant of the evil going on around them?”.

“The movie does not rely on a simple strawman to be the bad guy to prove their point. The trial setting allows both sides of the argument to be presented. The acting, cinematography and script are all finely tuned to provide top notch presentation.

“It is a story where judges judge judges. Is this movie that good? I will have you be the judge of that.”

One more viewer shared: “Gripping account of Judges’ Trial of Nazi Germany in postwar Nuremberg. Brings up several complex notions of guilt and responsibility and where to draw the line on culpability for the crimes of an entire regime.

“Interestingly enough, while these public trials took place, the CIC was recruiting some of the worst of the Nazi lot for spy purposes and shielding them. Won several Academy awards.”

Judgment at Nuremberg is streaming on BBC iPlayer now.