unrealistic and, thus, probably unnecessary

I generally try to make unbiased, non-emotional comments about films. I have mostly artistic, academic interest in their study. I believe Wise to be an excellent director and this is a masterful film.

I just found the scene with the infant to be so terribly cruel and cold. Who the hell would ask a woman holding and caressing her infant such a question, "how does it feel to hold your child when you know you are facing the gas chamber" or something to that effect? Wise was so into realism--does anyone know if this really happened (I know there are books on the real case, newspaper clippings, etc)?

If so, I find it difficult to believe that the gathered reporters did not gasp and admonish the woman reporter. In fact, I find it really absurd that there would be a pool of reporters gathered around for the baby-mother reunion in the first place. What cold bastards and wenches would not have their hearts melted by such a scene? I'm kind of a tough guy, but even I got teary eyed.

Edit: Oh, I wanted to add-even if Graham was a tougher, less sympathetic case than portrayed, the baby is still a victim. It is with that in mind, that I find it hard to fathom someone posing that question to her. Loose womanly virtue or even petty crime does not make someone an unfeeling, horrible person necessarily.

"I pranked him to death with a tire iron"