Judgment at Nuremberg Page #3

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
4,015 Views


he achieved international fame...

not only for his work as a great jurist,

but also as the author of legal text books...

which are still used in universities

all over the world.

He became Minister of Justice

in Germany in .

If Ernst Janning is to be found guilty...

certain implications must arise.

A judge does not make the laws.

He carries out the laws of his country.

The statement:

"My country, right or wrong..."

was expressed by a great American patriot.

It is no less true for a German patriot.

Should Ernst Janning have carried out

the laws of his country?

Or should he have refused to carry them out

and become a traitor?

This is the crux of the issue

at the bottom of this trial.

The defense is as dedicated

to finding responsibility...

as is the prosecution.

For it is not only Ernst Janning

who is on trial here...

it is the German people.

The tribunal will recess

until further notification.

If it's all right with you,

Byers can file these briefs later.

That was quite a damning speech

by Col. Lawson, wasn't it?

I wonder if those men in the dock

can really be responsible...

for the things he listed in the indictment.

I've been here for two years,

and after that long...

you find that responsibility

is not a cut-and-dried thing.

What are you fellows up to

over the weekend?

My wife and I are going to Liège.

There's nothing in Liège. I've been there.

My son was in the st.

He's buried in the American cemetery

outside Liège.

I'm sorry.

That's all right.

See you Monday, Dan.

Coming my way?

No, I'm going to stay here for a moment.

I'm waiting for some records from Byers.

Right.

Here are the reports you asked for, sir.

Thank you.

Captain, do you think you can get me a copy

of the books Ernst Janning wrote?

- There are quite a few of them.

- I'd like all of them.

And also a copy of the Weimar constitution.

- Do you think you can get that for me?

- Of course.

Thank you.

- How long have you been here, Captain?

- Two years.

- Two years? That's a long time.

- Yes, sir.

- Any friends?

- Sure.

German friends?

Yes.

A girl?

Yes.

Her parents were Nazis,

but she was eight when they came in.

- I didn't ask you that.

- I know.

But maybe you were thinking it.

It's natural to think about it.

I thought if anybody was going to

indoctrinate her, it might as well be me.

Will there be anything else?

No, I think I'll just take a walk around town

on my own.

Try the old section.

Everyone stops for beer and sausage there.

Thank you.

- Do you understand English?

- Yes, a little.

- What did she say?

- She said, "Goodbye, Grandpa."

Are they treating you all right?

Yes. They're treating me all right.

We still have some friends...

who have contact

with the American authorities.

I can tell them

if they're not treating you all right.

They're treating me all right.

Dr. Janning...

we are both in an embarrassing position.

I know you didn't want me as your counsel.

I know you didn't want anyone.

But I must tell you something.

Will you listen to me?

Yes.

I intend to represent your case

with complete dignity.

There will be...

no appeal to sentiment,

no falling at the mercy of the court.

The game...

will be played according to their own rules.

We'll see whether they have the courage

to sit in judgment on a man like you.

The way I see it...

the most important elements in the case...

are the sterilization decrees,

and the Feldenstein-Hoffman affair.

Dr. Janning, I must tell you something.

I admired you...

since I was a boy in the university.

It was because I thought

I might be able to achieve...

some of the things you have done...

that saw me through the war.

You have been somebody to look up to,

for all of us.

Is that all, Herr Rolfe?

Yes.

Thank you.

Dr. Wieck, do you know the defendant,

Ernst Janning?

Yes, I know him.

Will you tell us in what capacity?

We served in the Ministry of Justice together

from till .

Did you know him before that?

Yes.

He was a law student of mine.

- Did you know him well?

- Yes.

- Was he a protégé of yours?

- Yes.

Why?

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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    "Judgment at Nuremberg" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/judgment_at_nuremberg_210>.

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