Judgment at Nuremberg Page #11

Synopsis: In 1947, four German judges who served on the bench during the Nazi regime face a military tribunal to answer charges of crimes against humanity. Chief Justice Haywood (Spencer Tracy) hears evidence and testimony not only from lead defendant Ernst Janning (Burt Lancaster) and his defense attorney Hans Rolfe (Maximilian Schell), but also from the widow of a Nazi general (Marlene Dietrich), an idealistic U.S. Army captain (William Shatner) and reluctant witness Irene Wallner (Judy Garland).
Genre: Drama, War
Production: United Artists
  Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 25 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.2
Metacritic:
60
Rotten Tomatoes:
90%
NOT RATED
Year:
1961
186 min
4,043 Views


The most crucial part of this case

is coming up.

We have fallen on happy times, Herr Hahn.

In old times it would have made your day

if I'd deigned to say good morning to you.

Now that we are here

in this place together...

you feel obliged to tell me

what to do with my life.

Herr Janning, you must stand with us.

It is not good for Germans

to turn on one another.

We have a common ground now.

Listen to me, Herr Hahn.

There have been terrible things

that have happened to me in my life.

But the worst thing

that has ever happened...

is to find myself

in the company of men like you.

I have nothing in common with you

and Party hacks like you.

You have something in common.

You were part of that same regime.

You stood by that regime,

the same as the rest of us.

And there's something else

you have in common.

You are a German.

Good evening. Did you like it?

Yes, I did. Very much indeed.

Can I drop you?

I only live a few blocks from here.

I was going to walk.

Would you like to go for a walk?

Yes, I would.

I won't need the car now.

I'll walk with Mrs. Bertholt.

- Shall I wait for you, Your Honor?

- That won't be necessary.

I'll wait for you, Your Honor.

The German people love to sing,

no matter what the situation.

I've noticed that.

Do American people sing in bars, too?

I have forgotten.

No. We're apt to be pretty sullen in bars.

I wish you understood German.

The words are very beautiful.

Very sad.

Much sadder than the English words.

The German soldier knows

he's going to lose his girl...

and his life.

The lantern burns every night.

It knows the steps...

and the way you walk.

It burns every night,

but I've been long forgotten.

Should harm come to me...

who will stand with you...

under the lantern?

With you, Lili Marleen.

What is your life like in America?

Do you have a family?

Yes, I have a daughter,

and she has four children.

Four? You must be very proud of them.

Yes, I am. I admit it.

- And where's your wife?

- She died a few years ago.

- How about you? Do you have children?

- No, I don't.

What is your position in America?

It must be important.

No, it isn't, really. I'm a District Court Judge.

I haven't even been that for the last year.

Are you retired?

Forcibly, by the electorate.

You elect judges in the United States?

- Yes, in some states.

- I didn't know that.

It's either one of the virtues

or one of the defects of our judicial system.

I thought it was one of the virtues

until last year, when I was defeated.

I'm sure it was the fault

of the electorate, not yours.

Seems to be some difference of opinion

about that.

This is where I live.

- Here?

- Yes. It's not so bad inside.

Would you like to come up?

I could make some coffee.

Yes, thank you.

Things haven't been very easy for you,

have they?

I'm not used to them being easy.

I'm not fragile, Judge Haywood.

I'm a daughter of the military.

You know what that means, don't you?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

It means I was taught discipline.

A very special kind of discipline.

For instance, when I was a child...

we used to go for long rides

into the country in summertime.

But I was never allowed to run

to the lemonade stand with the others.

I was told, "Control your thirst.

"Control hunger.

"Control emotion."

It has served me well.

And your husband?

Was he of that heritage, too?

My husband was a soldier.

He was brought up to do one thing:

To fight in the battle, and fight well.

- Is the coffee all right?

- Fine, thank you.

It's ersatz, but I always try to make it strong.

It's fine.

I'm curious.

What do you think of Ernst Janning?

I really am not at liberty to discuss the case

outside of the courtroom.

Yes, of course.

I knew Ernst Janning a little.

We used to attend the same concerts.

I remember there was a reception given

for Wagner's daughter-in-law.

Hitler was there.

Ernst Janning was there with his wife.

She was very beautiful...

very small, very delicate.

She's dead now.

Hitler was quite taken with her.

He made advances towards her

during the reception.

He used to do things like that

in a burst of emotion.

I will never forget

Rate this script:4.8 / 4 votes

Abby Mann

Abby Mann (December 1, 1927 – March 25, 2008) was an American film writer and producer. more…

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