SPENCER TRACY
STANLEY KRAMER
“IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD” Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. At the time the film was made interracial marriage was against the law in 16 states. Stanley’s life was threatened because of the making of this film and yet he was very proud of the fact that this film helped change the law in 16 states. It was nominated for many Oscar Awards and it was the highest grossing film of all time. Sidney Poitier ask Stanley, “are you sure the country is ready for this type of subject?” Stanley said no, defiantly…”but we’re going to make it anyway.” There is a moment in the film where Spencer Tracy’s character asks Sidney Poitier character, “aren’t
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KAREN SHARPE KRAMER and STANLEY KRAMER you worried about having children, interracial marriage is against the law in 16 states?” Sidney Poitiers character replies, “Of course there’s going to be children, we think he will be President of the United States or at least Secretary of State…” How prophetic was that? Stanley Kramer believed so totally in what he was doing and what the country should stand for… the equality of all men. One statement that sums up Stanley Kramer from his film, “Judgment at Nurenberg,” the line spoken by Spencer Tracy’s character at the summation of the Nurenberg trial, “Let it be noted that this is what we stand for, Truth, Justice and the Value of a single human being.” That was Stanley Kramer. 29