Schindler's List (1993)

In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Thomas Keneally (book), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Stars:

Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley

Top 250 #8 | Won 7 Oscars. Another 70 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liam Neeson	...	Oskar Schindler
Ben Kingsley	...	Itzhak Stern
Ralph Fiennes	...	Amon Goeth
Caroline Goodall	...	Emilie Schindler
Jonathan Sagall	...	Poldek Pfefferberg (as Jonathan Sagalle)
Embeth Davidtz	...	Helen Hirsch
Malgorzata Gebel	...	Wiktoria Klonowska (as Malgoscha Gebel)
Shmuel Levy	...	Wilek Chilowicz (as Shmulik Levy)
Mark Ivanir	...	Marcel Goldberg
Béatrice Macola	...	Ingrid (as Beatrice Macola)
Andrzej Seweryn	...	Julian Scherner
Friedrich von Thun	...	Rolf Czurda (as Friedrich Von Thun)
Krzysztof Luft	...	Herman Toffel
Harry Nehring	...	Leo John
Norbert Weisser	...	Albert Hujar

Storyline

Oskar Schindler is a vainglorious and greedy German businessman who becomes unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric Nazi reign when he feels compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. A testament for the good in all of us.

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Plot Keywords:

Death | Factory | Nazi | Holocaust | List | 

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Taglines:

The List Is Life.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and actuality violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Universal / CAC [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew German Polish

Release Date:

15 December 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

La lista de Schindler

Filming Locations:

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,234,591 (UK) (4 March 1994)

Gross:

£16,439,233 (UK) (17 June 1994)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

195 min 185 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Swiss actor Bruno Ganz was sought to play the role of Oskar Schindler, but turned it down. Ganz later appeared in an important WWII movie, that of Adolf Hitler in Downfall.

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Goofs

In the 1940s, almost all European women did not shave any of their armpits, legs, or pubic areas, especially work or death camp women who were not allowed even the basics. All but one of the women in the film are trimmed and groomed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[a Hebrew prayer is chanted, followed by a flashback to 1940s Poland]
Krakow registrar: Name?

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Crazy Credits

The theatrical version juxtaposed images from the film of the actors portraying certain identified "Schindler Jews" as each actual person placed a stone on Schindler's grave. The VHS version does not use this device, showing only the actual persons, credited by name.

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Connections

Spoofed in Percy tårar (1996)

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Soundtracks

"POR UNA CABEZA"
(uncredited)
Music by Carlos Gardel

User Reviews

Extremely Brilliant

When I first saw that Spielberg was behind the movie, I had my doubts since his earlier work doesn't really fall into this category, but I held faith and I have not been disappointed! From the beginning it is such a powerful and moving film and it brought tears to my eyes more then once. It is completely set in Black & White, except for the Red Coat Girl which is pure genius, since it really helps develop the time period it was portrayed in.

The Actors too were completely fantastic! Every single actor and extra seemed to be doing their very best and really lived their roles, especially Ralph Fiennes, who was brilliant as the twisted Nazi Amon Goeth. Not just anyone could make that character real and get away with it. All of the characters in the film have depth and substance and the best thing was that you actually see a few of the Jewish people throughout the entire film so we can sympathize with their tale more.

It's a film to watch if you enjoy depth and meaning. 9 Stars, Excellent Film!