Professor Hutner’s second lecture focused on Budd Schulberg’s documentary ‘The Nazi Plan’ (1945), the first cohesive account of the rise of the Nazis, compiled from German propagandistic footage – such as Leni Riefenstahl’s films –, newsreels, and sound recordings. During the first part of the seminar, Schulberg’s biography was recounted, starting from his first literary publications and his relationship with Hollywood as a young screenwriter, to his involvement with the Communist Party and the resulting political controversy that took place in the 1950s. The second part of the seminar was devoted to Schulberg’s military activity during World War II. While serving in the Navy, he worked with John Ford’s documentary unit, and was involved in collecting evidence against Nazi war criminals. With this objective in mind, ‘The Nazi Plan’ was compiled and, later on, admitted as legal evidence during the Nuremberg Trials. Professor Hutner particularly highlighted the methodology of his research, which consisted in first-hand archival research of film reels and personal autobiographical documents, such as diaries and letters.
16 novembre 2022