Customer Reviews

Skokie

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4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Skokie" is the true story of how a community of Holocaust survivors and their neighbors in Skokie, Illinois stood up to a group of Neo-Nazis who wanted to hold a rally in their town. This watershed event is to Jewish-American history what the Selma March is to African-American history: a major turning point in the ongoing struggle of a minority to stand up for its dignity and rights. And yet, relatively few people recognize the name "Skokie" in the same way that they do "Selma." Which is one reason I show this video in Social Studies classes.

The film is well-balanced in the way that it presents the issues from all sides. On the one hand, the Nazis claim their First Amendment right to free speech. On the other hand, making that speech in a community of Jews who suffered under Hitler is provocative and cruel. The Jewish "establishment" recommends "quarantine" -- ignoring the Nazis to avoid giving them more publcity. The Holocaust survivors, on the other hand, point out that silence allowed Hitler to take over Germany, and they are not going to be silent again now. They urge public protest.

Danny Kaye's character is on the protester side. He describes an incident in the concentration camp where his mouth was stuffed with rags so he could not cry out. He refuses to be silent now and becomes an outspoken activist leader. His wife, on the other hand, is so emotionally traumatized by the memories that this controversy is re-awakening that she retreats to her room, listening to music and trying to block out the flashbacks. And their teenage daughter? She learns for the first time what her parents went through in the camps, and how her grandmother was brutally murdered by the Nazis. Up until this time, her parents has not talked about it, because they felt that a child should not have to grow up with such things. (Historically, it is true that, up until the Skokie events, many Holocaust survivors in America did not discuss the camps with their children. Many children of Holocaust survivors didn't even know their parents were in the camps -- yet they wondered why they had no aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)

The legal side of the controversy is also well covered, with public meetings in the synagogue, private meetings in the Mayor's office, and courtroom scenes where the First Amendment is tested against testimony by the survivors about what seeing a swastika means to them. (These courtroom scenes also serve to give the viewers some background information about the Jews and the Nazis without getting preachy.) As the controversy heats up, Skokie becomes a focus of national attention, attracting protesters from around the country and giving the Mayor a big headache. Do the Nazis get a permit to hold their rally or not? I won't be a spoiler -- watch the film for yourself!

On the technical end, the film is rated PG with no bad language (except when the Nazis use racial slurs), making it appropriate for use in schools. However, it's 121 minutes long, which means it takes up two class periods (or more, depending on how long your classes are.) The action moves along well, however, and the students stay interested. The last part is a sort of trailer where each of the main characters does a short interview-type monolog about what he or she got out of the events. In the end, the viewer is left to decide for him/herself whether hate speech should be protected speech.

Skokie is the name of the small suburb outside Chicago and home to a large Jewish populace, many of whom are survivors of the Holocaust. In 1977, it was also the epicenter of an uproar when the American Nazi Party publicly announced they would hold a rally in the center of the town. This film examines the inevitable aftermath of emotions felt nationwide (particularly among the township's residents), along with the legalities of speech protection by the First Ammendment, no matter how pejorative.
The story intensifies its dramatic (and ironic)pitch when the ACLU quickly sides with the Nazis, despite many of its members being Jews. They explicitly indicate how even hateful ideology and practices are protected under the Bill of Rights; a move that angers even its most ardent supporters. The film's theme is this most basic of arguments: do even hate groups of this vile nature have the right to free speech. Or does this act breach any limitations set forth in the ammendment (such as yelling 'Fire!' in a crowded theater)? And if so, will stopping this march undermine the principles of the Bill of Rights?
An first-rate cast delivers excellent performances to this reenactment: John Rubenstein as the ACLU's attorney desperately trying to convince the public that the Nazis have a right to conduct their assembly, George Dzundza as the menacing leader of the Nazis, Kim Hunter as a Holocaust survivor haunted by the horror of the concentration camps, Eli Wallach (making a brief but strong cameo) as a disgruntled senior ACLU member. Leading this ensemble is the late Danny Kaye in a rare dramatic role. When his character is first alerted of the Nazi's imminent move, he attends a town council meeting and vehemently objects to the Nazi's actions. This performance was a refreshing turnaround from his early comedic roles.
Despite some lapses into melodrama, "Skokie" challenges viewers of all ages to this question: Should a group like the American Nazi Party be allowed the freedom of speech even though if they ever came to power, they would surely deny such freedom?

"Skokie" was, I believe, the last vehicle for Danny Kaye, and one of his few serious roles. I was most impressed with it when it first aired, and had tried to find it over the years since. Danny Kaye is terrific, and surprising, in the role he plays. A young George Dzundza, whom I did not remember as having been in it, delivered an excellent performance as well. Over all I was delighted with the DVD although I wish there had been some more of the history of the true incident, and of the fine cast, included as special features.

Skokie was a television movie that I had strong memories about even after all these years.

It was interesting to see how I had changed because, obviously, the movie did not.

For anyone who is interested in the subject matter, I respectfully suggest purchasing a different movie. For those interested in an excellent dramatic performance by Danny Kaye, go ahead and buy it: for that, it is worth it.

My problem with the movie is that it presents all sides as if each are equally valid. When it comes to Nazis and those who represent them as well as those who stand their ground and protest them as violators of the 1st Amendment (i.e., this is NOT freedom of speech; it is an incitement to riot!); this movie bends over backward to justify the 'righteousness' of neo-Nazi/Nazi behavior and I find that reprehensible.

I am very glad I purchased it, however, because it shows me how I have evolved since first watching it on television all those years ago. So, you might also find it interesting to shed light on how your views/opinions have evolved or remained stagnant in the last couple of decades.

A thought-provoking film about hate...and the pain provoked by the Holocaust. My grandmother worked for rich white folks in Skokie when I visited her in Evanston back in 1958, but I never knew about the large Jewish poulation in this posh Chicago suburb until viewing this film. What ever happened to handsome John Rubinstein who plays ACLU lawyer...and why haven't I seen him before? Superb acting by Danny Kaye and Kim Hunter!

Speaking as someone who grew up in Skokie during the middle of this crisis, this movie brings back lots of memories and reveals things that I had no idea were going on. I was 10 at the time, and the only thing I remember hearing about it was that if it happened, we were to stay home, close the windows and blinds and ignore it. I had no idea of the violence and bloodshed that was forthcoming. Seeing this movie as an adult gave me a whole new perspective on it. I also got to see some friends I knew who were extras in it and some sights of the Skokie I once knew

Filled with passion, love and racial hatred at the same time. Spellbinding at the least.
Truly the best performance I have ever seen by Danny Kaye. He leaves his usual slap-stick
routine out and grips the viewer with a performance that tears at your soul and shows you
what these poor people suffered at, what I consider, the blackest point in the human existence.
I feel that this movie should be required viewing in every school in the U. S. Let future
generations know that this truly happened. It was not a myth as some would have us believe.

As a teacher I use this movie in my classes. It helps explain to students how the court system works, and how the constitution can be interpretted diferently by people especially the amendments, bill of rights, etc. and how certain court cases end up going before several courts before going to the supreme court. It also details how certain groups such as the neo nazis still exist even in america, and how survivors of the holocaust living in america espoecially in ill. at that time period reacted to what was going on at the time. This is a movie that touches on so many things that students learn in high school government that i believe the two days devoted to watching this movie is very well spent. As an educator i give this movie two thumbs up.

As far as the movie itself, in my opinion it is a very good movie, with very believable actors, video quality is good, and is pretty much dead on, a really good movie for people that like post holocaust, ww2, or movies with lots of drama and nerving speeches. You definately can't go wrong here.

I teach government to high school special education students. SKOKIE is a great movie to illustrate the importance of the First Amendment. Freedom of speech must be upheld whether or not we agree with the speaker.

In one of his last film roles Danny Kaye becomes deadly serious,as he gets involved in a row splitting a town apart - should Nazi sympathisers be given a platform for their views? The Jewish residents think not. Judge for yourself.