Schindler’s List - How Ralph Fiennes Perfected Amon Goeth

This video essay analyzes Ralph Fiennes' acting as Amon Goeth in Schindler's List (distributed by Universal Pictures and directed by Steven Spielberg. Amon Goeth was a monster, but how did Ralph Fiennes capture the most disturbing elements of the character? This video examines the preparation and research the actor undertook, as well as the small physical aspects of the performance and improvised moments that make him so terrifying.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Ralph Fiennes
1:20 Preparation and Research
5:05 Playful Inhumanity
9:07 Conflicted Feelings

Music Used:
Landing on a Dark Planet by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions (YouTube Audio Library)
Imagine a New Darker You by The Tower of Light (YouTube Audio Library)

#ralphfiennes #amongoeth #schindlerslist

[lauradurkin]

Fiennes was absolutely robbed of the Oscar, I love Tommy Lee Jones but Ralph’s portrayal of Amon Goeth was cinematic Gold

[crashburn]

Tommy Lee Jones was great in The Fugitive, but him winning the Oscar instead of Fiennes was such a mistake. Fienne's Amon Goeth was one of the all-time great performances in one of the greatest films of all time. Hindsight I guess.

[melissaking]

I'll never forget seeing this film when it was released. The packed theatre would collectively recoil and hold its breath when Ralph Fiennes appeared onscreen. In a career full of superb performances, Fiennes' Goeth is the zenith of his film career. How he lost the Oscar to Jones is baffling. Why he hasn't received an Oscar in the following decades shows how worthless the Academy Awards are.

[ReprobiCrucesignati]

He wasnt just acting. He became Amon.
Excellent performance. One of the best in cinema history

[adamatherton]

Fiennes portrayal of Goeth will go down as one the most iconic acting performances of all time. He made Goeth real and thus the film real.

[broadstken]

Goeth's own daughter said she recognized him in the film as her father immediately. There's a great documentary called "Inheritance" from PBS about her finding out who her father really was and trying to come to terms with it

[Vort]

I read in an article that when a real Schindler Jew and survivor of Amon Goeth’s cruelty saw Ralph in character and in uniform she instantly broke down into sobs and near screaming. Swearing that Amon Goeth had come back from the grave. Ralph had to tear off the uniform and comfort her an that he was just an actor playing the part. Later, she was at peace she swore Ralph's performance of Goeth was as if a ghost had come alive. Ralph said he’ll never forget that moment and the terror in her eyes as well as what she must have endured and survived in real life.

[merrylstreak]

The fear I felt watching him was so disturbing. His good looks and extreme coldness seemed incongruous. It was a travesty that he didn’t get that Oscar.

[mmkay]

Omg are you me !?! Fiennes’ performance as Göeth is one of my favorite performances of all time period, not just as a villain, but in general, and NO ONE really mentions it as much as other characters in films. Thank you for covering this !

[mfredcourtney]

He was perfect in every way. The accent the body language everything. He REALLY deserved the Oscar and most people agree.
He gave life to the monster.

[Gavin]

How Tommy Lee Beat him at the Oscar's I'll never know.

[sqn]

The sheer quality, skill and talent of Neeson, Fiennes and Kingsley 's acting in Schindler's list is probably the finest example of film acting you will ever see!. Totally and utterly fantastically good 👍👏👏👏

[blackcatzd]

Ralph Fiennes stole the show. He was a different league. One of the reasons why it was such a chilling performance is that he was incredibly good looking. It was somehow difficult to believe that someone so gorgeous could be pure evil.

[alyssajones]

Man, Ralph Fiennes was phenomenal at his role. He should have won the Oscar. This powerful film is such a tear jerker. My mother and I cried our eyes out. Especially at the end where a clip of the real life survivors paid their respects to Schindler's grave.

[eamonnmorris]

Fiennes is one of the reasons I have never seen Schindler's List a second time. Too disturbing and brilliant. This is an insightful and worthy review.

[DildoDaggins]

Honestly, Ralph could receive every accolade in the world and he'd still be underrated. I hope that history remembers him as one of the true greats.

[DuanTorruellas]

Ralph Fennes has always been one of my favorite actors. Along with Daniel day Lewis and Anthony Hopkins.

[patriciadavison]

Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of Amon Goeth was/is the most brilliant acting I have ever witnessed. Somehow his presence on screen, in every shot, encapsulated the sheer horror of The Holocaust and caused us all to feel shame, sorrow, utter fear and revulsion of what humans are capable of. He really did become that despicable character and like the shots of the little girls in the red coat, he will also be tattooed on our memories forever. 👏

[him]

I think the fact that he’s devilishly handsome makes him even more unnerving. Like he’s not evil in that he looks grotesque or scary.

[darkangel_]

I still remember hearing about a Holocaust survivor being on set, and Fiennes' performance as Göethe scared her badly. They had to console her, and reassure her that it wasn't really him, but an actor portraying him.