[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1327-E1328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      IN MEMORY OF STANLEY KRAMER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2001

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of an 
exceptional film maker, Stanley Kramer.
  During his lifetime, Stanley Kramer produced dozens of films. They 
included such classics as Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Judgment at 
Nuremberg and Inherit the Wind.
  Stanley Earl Kramer was born and raised in New York City's Hell's 
Kitchen neighborhood, where he later attended New York University. 
Before he left for the military service in World War II, he established 
himself in the movie industry as a researcher, editor and writer. His 
first film, So This is New York, was released in 1948.
  Working in the 1950s and 60s, Kramer stood for things in which he 
believed and intertwined them into his works. For example, he 
highlighted issues such as race in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The 
Defiant Ones, Nazi war crimes in Judgment at Nuremberg, fundamentalism 
vs. modern science in Inherit the Wind and nuclear holocaust in On the 
Beach. He also depicted his courageous demeanor in his films, not even 
realizing it, by creating characters who fought against fear while 
others stayed behind.
  Even though Kramer was known as a ``message director'', his friends 
and beloved ones knew him as much more. Steven Spielberg once said that 
Kramer was one of the greatest film makers due to the impact he made on 
the ethical world, and not solely based on the art and passion he 
conveyed on screen.
  Eighty of his films were nominated for Oscars, 16 of them which won 
and six were nominated for Best Picture. Three of his finest films made 
the American Film Institute's list of 100 Best Movies of All Time. 
Kramer himself was nominated as Best Director three times, and in 1962, 
he was presented the prestigious Irving B. Thalberg Memorial Award for 
Outstanding Work. He also received the Producers Guild of America's 
David O. Selznick Life Achievement Award.

[[Page E1328]]

  My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory of 
Stanley Kramer for all of his achievements in the movie industry. His 
love and dedication in portraying significant films has touched the 
hearts of all.

                          ____________________