Product Details

• Actors: Ferdinand Marian, Werner Krauss, Heinrich George, Kristina Soderbaum
• Directors: Veit Harlan
• Format: NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: International Historic Films, Inc.
• DVD Release Date: April 17, 2008
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0017ZGYR0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,294 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Long recognized as history's most incendiary film, Jud Süss was the cultural centerpiece in Joseph Goebbels campaign against the Jews. Released in 1940, it was a box office sensation across Germany and Europe; alongside the movie's theatrical distribution, it became a staple of Nazi propaganda evenings organized by the Hitler Youth, SS and others. At once a rousing melodrama and murderous antisemitic incitement, the movie draws loosely from historical events from the early eighteenth century, when Jud Süss Oppenheimer, financial advisor to the Duke of Württemberg, was subjected to a sensational trial and gruesome execution. The film depicts Süss as a figure of cynical cunning and malign will, a sexual predator sowing corruption everywhere; his promotion of Jewish emancipation brings Christian Württemberg to the brink of moral and social ruination. That these qualities are conveyed through Ferdinand Marian's stunningly charismatic performance as Süss suggests something of the film's disturbing power even as it acknowledges Jewish misery, Jud Süss argues for still more lethal, pitiless solutions to the Jewish question. A key historical document of the twentieth century, Jud Süss remains a deeply unsettling cinematic experience. Directed by Veit Harlan; music by Wolfgang Zeller; featuring Ferdinand Marian, Werner Krauss, Heinrich George, and Kristina Söderbaum. Germany, 1940, B&W, 95 minutes, German dialogue, Switchable English, French & Italian subtitles.

SPECIAL DVD FEATURES
Historical Slide Show: The Life & Trials of Joseph Süss Oppenheimer by John Abbott
Video Commentary by Harvard's Eric Rentschler
Illustrated 22 page Essay Booklet by Louisiana State University's David Culbert**
Original Promotional Materials and Posters Slide Show
Interactive Scene Selection
Switchable English, French & Italian Subtitles
Digitally Restored from Original 35mm Film Elements using state of the art daVinci RevivalTM Technology by I-Cubed Chicago

**Jud Suess (Jew Suess, Germany, 1940) is the most successful anti-Semitic feature film ever made, a product of opportunism, brilliant acting, and the hateful agenda of Joseph Goebbels, Nazi propaganda minister. It remains notorious to this day. Softbound, 22 pages, 29 B&W and Color Photos, 4 1/2 x 7 inches size. Booklet included with this DVD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evil Art, January 1, 2010

By 

Banjo Cate's granddaughter (New England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jud Suss (Jew Suess): The Deluxe Restored Version (DVD)

My husband requested this DVD: here's his response: I've read alot about this film and seen clips from it in documentaries. This edition is very good - restored version and informative supplements. Watching this film provokes divided reactions. You can admire it for its expensive production values, acting, photography, and editing. Director Veit Harlan's use of crowd scenes are also impressive here as in his other films. It's comparable to the handsome Hollywood historical biopics of the time such as Warner Brother's 'The Life of Emile Zola' and others with Paul Muni. The big difference is you will detest 'Jud Suss' for its obvious message (unlike the 'Zola' film) which was to inflame anti-semitism and quash sympathy for Jews at a time when Germany was preparing to destroy them. The film's production history and aftermath is worth exploring. After the war Ferdinand Marian who played the title character supposedly committed suicide due to guilt over his role and Werner Krauss who portrayed several stereotypical Jews was blacklisted. Harlan was acquitted twice for war crimes and went on to make more films. History is still divided about Harlan's role in creating the film. Was he forced to make it or was he a willing co-conspirator who made it too good? There's a new documentary about Harlan that might provide answers. We need to see 'Veit Harlan: In the Shadow of Jud Suss.' I'll wait for that DVD.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well made if hateful propaganda film, July 23, 2011

By 

Andres C. Salama (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jud Suss (Jew Suess): The Deluxe Restored Version (DVD)

One of the most notorious anti Semitic movies ever made, filmed in Germany in 1940, under the close supervision of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. This was based on a real case and a further
novel by Jewish author Lion Feuchtwanger - obviously, the Nazis completely distorted the source material so that this film is completely anti-Semitic. The movie was a huge success at its time - millions of Germans watched it and SS boss Heinrich Himmler made viewing the movie mandatory for every member of his organization. Today the film is banned in Germany.

In 18th century Germany, the foolish duke of Wurttenberg decides to make the Jewish businessman Joseph Suss Oppenheimmer his financial adviser. Soon disaster will come to the dukedom, in the form of a higher cost of living (under advice from Suss, the duke sharply rises all sort of taxes). Suss also advices the duke to let the Jews enter Wurttenberg (from where they were banned from residing). Eventually, the members of Wurttenberg council, decides to rise against the duke and his adviser.

Ironically, in some ways the message of the movie looks different today than originally intended. To a modern audience, the Germans in the movie are so naïve, ignorant and narrow minded that they seem off
putting, while Suss appears to be, until he turns into a rapist and torturer toward the end, not such a bad guy, just a sharp, quick if a bit ethically loose businessman. Putting tolls in the roads of Wurttenberg doesn't look to be such a bad thing, while the politicians of the council opposing Suss seem uptight, arrogant and pompous. The character of Faber seems an unbearable, prejudiced young hothead, while his wife Dorothea, the Christian girl Suss strives for and that will be one of the causes of his downfall (played by Kristina Soderbaum, wife of director Veit Harlan) is so dumb and foolish, one feels she is not really worth the trouble. Even the portrayal of the rabbi of the community seems almost positive to a modern audience: he tells Suss to be very careful in his political dealings with the Germans, lest this backfire on the Jewish community.

Ferdinand Marian gives an amazing multifaceted performance as the cunning but magnetic Suss, without him the movie would be far less powerful than it is. Finally, I give this movie a high rating because I think is very well made - I certainly find its message hateful.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoying This Movie Made Me Feel Like A Scumbag, June 20, 2010

By 

Gunlover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jud Suss (Jew Suess): The Deluxe Restored Version (DVD)

This movie is proof that art can be evil as hell.

"Jud Suss" is a Nazi propaganda film commissioned by Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. It was released in September, 1940 to drum up public support for the extermination of the Jews, particularly in Poland, soon after the war began.

This movie is wonderfully acted, the cinematography is impressive, and the costume design is breathtaking. It is also a piece of propagandistic garbage reflecting the values of the fevered, anti-Semitic cultural swamp that was Nazi Germany. The villain in "Jud Suss" is a lecherous, greedy Jew (Suss) played by Ferdinand Marian. Suss befriends the Duke Of Wurttemberg, persuading the duke to grant him the right to collect road tolls, taxes, and various other subsidies. Suss then proceeds to plunder the state of Wurttemberg while raping innocent, doe-eyed Christian maidens and defrauding the good people of the city.

"Jud Suss" is a movie built on stereotypes and hatred of others. Be careful, though. You might find yourself enjoying this piece of trash.