Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust
Narrated by Gene Hackman
Narrated by Gene Hackman and featuring interviews with Steven Spielberg, Sidney Lumet and other prominent filmmakers and historians, Imaginary Witness takes the viewer on a 60-year journey from the American ambivalence during the heyday of Nazism, through the silence of the post-war years, and into the end of the 20th century. Using rare newsreel footage as well as gripping clips from over forty films (Schindler's List, Sophie's Choice and more) this thrilling documentary explores Hollywood's involvement with and attitude towards one of the most horrific events in world history.
Member Reviews
Perhaps a little too self-congratulatory - rnhaas
This is a somewhat interesting documentary that does a pretty good job of looking at Hollywood's lack of interest in Nazism and the Holocaust in the 30s-70s but unfortunately it gets a little too self-congratulatory when it starts looking at more recent films. Part of the problem with this is certainly the fact that it is about Hollywood films only. Yes, American movies are the most popular movies on the planet, but European films have focused on the Holocaust for decades and certainly have at least helped create this notion of the Holocaust as the absolute of evil. Omitting these movies gives us the sense that "Holocaust" the mini-series and "Schindler's List" and "Sophie's Choice" basically did this on their lonesome.Could have been better..... - Cricri7
This documentary looks at the subject of the Holocaust, but seen through the eyes of filmakers. You have interviews with Hollywoods producers, screenwriters, etc...that have lived through that period in history. It is interesting because you get to see Sidney Lumet and others talk about the way things were in Hollywood during that period. However, the finished product did not grab my attention throughout. I liked it but have seen better documentaries on the subject.Average. - movie_goer
Narrated by Gene Hackman and labeled with an unusual title I was intrigued. That's where it stops.
Imaginary Witness is an overview of films made during and after the second world war that relate or perhaps fabricate and other times misstep fiction from truth. The documentator's goal was simple, seed out Hollywoods censorship, and propraganda. For me all it did was tell me what i already knew and what little Americans still don't know. My grandmother was born and raised in Germany during WW2, her stories alone would have made for a better summerization!
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Perhaps a little too self-congratulatory - rnhaas
This is a somewhat interesting documentary that does a pretty good job of looking at Hollywood's lack of interest in Nazism and the Holocaust in the 30s-70s but unfortunately it gets a little too self-congratulatory when it starts looking at more recent films. ...Could have been better..... - Cricri7
This documentary looks at the subject of the Holocaust, but seen through the eyes of filmakers. You have interviews with Hollywoods producers, screenwriters, etc...that have lived through that period in history. It is interesting because you get to see Sidney ...Average. - movie_goer
Narrated by Gene Hackman and labeled with an unusual title I was intrigued. That's where it stops.
Imaginary Witness is an overview of films made during and after the second world war that relate or perhaps fabricate and other times misstep fiction ...