Nuremberg (2000 film)
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| Nuremberg | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Docudrama |
| Written by | David W. Rintels |
| Directed by | Yves Simoneau |
| Starring | Alec Baldwin · Brian Cox · Christopher Plummer · Jill Hennessy |
| Composer(s) | Richard Grégoire |
| Country of origin |  Canada United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Mychèle Boudrias · Ian McDougall |
| Editor(s) | Yves Langlois |
| Cinematography | Alain Dostie |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original airing | July 16, 2000 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Nuremberg is a Canadian/United States television docudrama, based on the book Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial by Joseph E. Persico, that tells the story of the Nuremburg War Trials.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
[edit] Part one
At the close of World War II Herman Goring surrenders to the Americans and enjoys the hospitality of a U.S. Air Force base. Samuel Rosenman acting on the orders of U.S. President Harry S. Truman recruits Justice Robert H. Jackson to prepare a war crimes tribunal against the Goring and the surviving Nazi leadership. Goring, Albert Speer and others are arrested for war crimes and imprisoned in a U.S. Army stockade in Bad Mondorf. Jackson, his assistant Elsie Douglas, and his prosecution team fly to Europe. Psychiatrist Gustave Gilbert arrives at the stockade with prisoner Hans Frank who has attempted suicide.
Jackson negotiates with allied representatives Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, General Iona Nikitchenko and Henri Donnedieu de Vabres to ensure a unified prosecution. Jackson selects the Nuremberg Palace of Justice for the site of the trials and reconstruction work commences. Goring and the others are stripped of their rank and transferred to the prison in Nuremberg where they come into conflict with the guards under the command of the strict Colonel Burton C. Andrus. Major Airey Neave serves Goring, Speer and the other with their indictments. U.S. judge Francis Biddle arrives to take control of the court but reluctantly passes the honour at Jackson’s insistence. Following the suicide of prisoner Robert Ley round-the-clock watches are posted and Gilbert is appointed prisoner liaison.
Sir Geoffrey Lawrence opens the trial with all defendants pleading not guilty and Jackson gives a stirring opening statement. At lunch a jovial Goring holds court over the other defendants while Speer begins to show signs of repentance. Maxwell-Fyfe puts forward an emotive eyewitness account of the massacre of Jews while Jackson stultifying reads out dry documentation. As the court begins to tire of Jackson’s meticulous approach Maxwell-Fyfe urges pushing onto the witness interviews which reveal the horrors of the concentration camps. The court is shaken when shocking documentary footage of the camps is shown.
[edit] Part two
Speer explains Goring’s dominance to Gilbert and insists that his control over the others must be broken. Goring takes the stand and begins speaking to the German people. Jackson, at Gilbert’s suggestion, has Goring isolated. Goring under cross-examination manages to outmanoeuvre and humiliate Jackson. Jackson accuses Biddle for giving Goring free-reign in court. Douglas manages to talk Jackson out of tendering his resignation and the two kiss. Jackson under advice from Maxwell-Fyfe returns to confront Goring with evidence of his crimes against the Jews and successfully dismisses the defendant’s denials.
At a Christmas party the housekeeper refuses to serve the Russians and Douglas rescues the situation before slipping away with Jackson. Gilbert visits the defendants and under Jackson’s advice attempts to convince them to take responsibility for their crimes. Andrus relaxes the prison rules for Christmas and Goring shares a friendly drink with his guard Lt. Tex Wheelis. The cross-examination of the defendants intensifies and the defence calls Rudolf Hoss who reveals the horrors of Auschwitz. Speer is implicated in the enslavement of foreign workers by fellow defendant Fritz Sauckel and in response accepts collective responsibility for the crimes of the Nazi regime.
Gilbert interview Goring wife and she reveals Hitler’s orders to have them all executed that lead to the family’s surrender. Jackson is moved by Gilbert’s summation of his examinations that evil as the lack of empathy to give an eloquent and moving closing statement. Goring uses his final statement to criticise the judicial and is sentenced along with 10 others to death by hanging. Speer uses his final statement to commend the tribunal and is given 20-years in prison. After Goring’s request to be given a soldier’s death by firing squad is denied he commits suicide. Andrus presides over the executions of the others whilst Jackson and Douglas head home.
[edit] Cast
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[edit] Awards
| Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Miniseries | Nominated |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Won (Brian Cox) | |
| Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Won | |
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Nominated | |
| 58th Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated |
| Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated (Alec Baldwin) | |
| Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated (Brian Cox) | |
| 7th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated (Alec Baldwin) |
| Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated (Brian Cox) | |
| 16th Gemini Awards | Best Dramatic Mini-Series | Won |
| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Nominated (Yves Simoneau) | |
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Nominated (Alec Baldwin) | |
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Won (Brian Cox) | |
| Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series | Nominated | |
| Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series | Nominated | |
| Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Dramatic Program or Series | Won | |
| Best Achievement in Make-Up | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Nominated | |
| Best Overall Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series | Nominated | |
| Best Visual Effects | Won | |
| 2001 PGA Awards | Television Producer of the Year Award in Longform | Nominated |
| 2001 Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Won (Jill Hennessy) |
