Saturday, February 25, 2006
THINK PIECE
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film is almost entirely expository. Or is the word 'didactic'?
Stanley Kramer's
is a meditation on the prosecution of the more bureaucratic war criminals and argues the old question of personal responsiblity for national crimes.
It takes place some three years after the big bang show trials. The urge to punish is waning. The Russians now seem a larger threat; the Berlin blockade is unfolding.
The pressure is on to get the trials over and not alienate the German people who are now needed as allies.
It is all interesting and is a relatively short three hours.
Spencer Tracy is the judge who must balance justice with the pragmatism of his times. Maximillian Schell is the defense lawyer. Richard Widmark is the prosecutor. All good, all fun to watch eat the scenery.
Surprisingly, Burt Lancaster is one of the accused. Not surprisingly he holds the center together with a bravura performance.
Also surprising is Judy Garland (!?) and Montgomery Clift as 'against type' witnesses. They are great! It works.
No surprise that Marlene Dietrich flexer her cheekbones and flares the nostrils to get through her stint as a lightly romantic friend of Tracy. All vaseline on the lens.
She is one kraut who 'didn't know' what was happening. She is disappointed in the verdicts.
A courtroom drama is a courtroom drama but there are enough ideas and conflicts bouncing around this one to make it interesting.
Many of the issues are perfectly apt today. I won't enumerate them. Just read the headlines: spying, extra-ordinary powers, torture. Well, I said I wouldn't enumerate.
Incidentally, this is a tribunal. They really existed and exist. Just another up-to-date wrinkle.
It ain't a perfect picture. It has dull parts and Marlene Dietrich. They even wring out a scene where she has a chance to hum and talk about the song Lili Marlene. Pleeeeease! Hit the mute button!
I will give it a 4 out of Netflix 5.
P.S. I love the picture which is from the 'album'. Funny. I don't even remember any music but there was the Horst Wessel song and Lili Marlene in the background. I guess that is the sign of good mood music. You don't notice it. It just works. John Williams take note. Note the High Fidelity logo. What times those were. Just before stereo! I was there! On the cusp. Sometimes, I feel so old! Not really. I am glad to have been there first.
