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• Based on Thomas Keneally's novel Schindler's Ark, Schindler's List tells the story of German factory owner Oskar Schindler who created a list of "skilled workers" to allow him to spare over one thousand Polish Jews from being sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust.

  Steven Spielberg directed the film and it is often considered his highest achievement. The film one seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

• Fast Facts

  1. Studio: Universal Pictures
  2. Production company: Amblin Entertainment
  3. Director: Steven Spielberg
  4. Writer: Steve Zaillian
  5. Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
  6. Release date: December 15, 1993
  7. Running time: 195 minutes
  8. Nominated for 12 Academy Awards and winner of seven

• Making The Film

  Spielberg was inspired by Keneally's novel upon its release and convinced Universal Pictures to acquire the rights. The project was first conceived in 1983, yet Spielberg held off directing it himself, due to his insecurity about making a film based on the Holocaust. Roman Polanski and Sydney Pollack were offered the chance to direct and Martin Scorsese and Billy Wilder expressed interest as well.

  Eventually, Spielberg agreed to direct the film, under Universal chief Sid Sheinberg's condition that he make Jurassic Park first.

• Reception and Accolades

  Schindler's List was a worldwide success, grossing over $300 million and receiving the Best Picture award from the Oscars, Golden Globes and the British Academy Awards.

  In the 2002 British Film Institute poll, both director John Dahl and critic Matthias Greuling included Schindler's List among their top ten favorite films of all time. It is ranked #6 on the IMDb Top 250.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Steven Spielberg | Holocaust | Germany | AFI Top 100 Films List | Liam Neeson | Ralph Fiennes | Ben Kingsley | Pearl Harbor (Film) | Embeth Davidtz | Steven Zaillian | Oskar Schindler | Judaism | Naziism | Museum of Tolerance | The Shoah Foundation

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