Garland - Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) Discussion

Yes she was superb. Her emotions seemed to ooze off the screen. Her performance is so moving.

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[–] 10 years ago

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I actually gasped and said "WOW!" out loud when I saw her, I couldn't believe how fat/bloated and old she looked. She was 38~39 when the movie was shot but looked at least 10+ years older. I guess a massive daily dose of pills and booze isn't good for the body after all.

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] doug65oh 10 years ago

If I recall correctly, Clift was severely injured in an automobile accident ca. 1956 or so. From what I understand, his downward spiral really began there and continued until his death. Clift’s own problems might well have contributed to his performance in Nuremberg. What strikes me at the moment is the sheer irony of a single anguished line uttered by Petersen: “Since that day…I am half I have ever been.”

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[–] USAFmedicVET 10 years ago

Posted by: kurtm7-586-811627 replied Jun 17, 2014
"Yeah, and I couldn't believe Montgomery Clift was forty. He looked fifty to me. That's what drugs and hard living will do to you."

...and a very serious auto accident before seat belts and airbags, that almost killed him! But certainly scarred his face and his self-esteem from which he never recovered.

"We in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few,
We Band of Brothers" W.S.

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[–] bekayess 9 years ago

Regardless of the rude personal comments (bloated?) about her personal demons--noted by others--this is probably the best dramatic acting performance Judy Garland ever gave. I have seen almost every film she ever made, and many of her television performances...and this is Garland the actress at her best. To those of you who feel compelled to comment on pills and bloating--grow up and get over your bitchiness. Garland is a human being--flawed, yes. And you are also flawed--and not at all superior to her--in your need to bash the woman.

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[–] Percivalx 10 years ago

You're right. She should have.

"Let us be crooked, but never common."

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[–] Mayesgwtw39 9 years ago

It's amazing how few people talk about Garland's greatness in this film. She brings so many things to the role.

I watched the interview with Schell and Mann and not a word was said about her. But the bravery mixed with fear that she conveys is so indescribably complex, that I cannot think how she did/does not get more attention for this performance. Clift is also brilliant.

If for nothing else, the mock rape scene in "West Side Story" assures that Moreno deserved the award.

But I just notice that so few articles or interviews ever seem to remark on Garland's performance in JAN.

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[–] JurijFedorov 9 years ago

How old was she supposed to be in this movie? About 28 years old, right? She was 16 during the Nazi regime as they said at least 5 times in this movie.

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[–] Zuider_Zee 9 years ago

 I wish she had done more straight drama and less musicals. Not that she isn't a great singer but I always found her performances as an actress in musicals to be rather average when compared to the wallop she delivers in this film. I'm not overly fond of the musical genre so perhaps I am biased.

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[–] stevekaczynski 8 years ago

I thought both Garland and Clift gave excellent performances as characters whose lives had been ruined by the Nazi régime. Perhaps the performances were enhanced by the real-life demons of the actors. When Tracy's character comments on Garland's that "she really was 16 once" it was almost like Tracy was saying "she really was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz once."

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."

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