Nuremberg has been making its brisk rounds across the internet, praised as both sobering history lesson and cinematic spectacle, with Rami Malek standing squarely at the center. Malek plays Douglas Kelley, the US Army psychiatrist asked to examine Hermann Göring’s sanity before trial. It turns out the part has rather firm roots in an actual psychiatrist’s unsettling profession.

The film draws directly from Dr. Douglas McGlashan Kelley, a United States Army psychiatrist stationed at Nuremberg Prison. The screenwriter of the film, James Vanderbilt, had previously confirmed that the movie is inspired by Jack El-Hai's book.

Dr. Douglas McGlashan Kelley served as the chief medical officer at Nuremberg Prison during the early stages of the war crimes trials. His primary responsibility was determining whether the captured leaders were mentally competent to stand trial. Among the prisoners he evaluated was Hermann Göring, the most prominent defendant.

To understand the defendants’ minds, Douglas McGlashan Kelley relied on several psychological tools. The psychiatrist conducted Rorschach inkblot tests, intelligence examinations, and detailed interviews. Hermann Göring, for instance, reportedly recorded an intelligence quotient of 138 during Kelley’s testing.

Kelley’s findings proved controversial after WWII. Douglas McGlashan Kelley concluded that many leaders were not clinically insane. Instead, the psychiatrist described them as disturbingly ordinary individuals whose ambition and environment shaped their crimes.

From his moral dilemma to his uneasy understanding of the prisoners, Rami Malek captures Douglas Kelley with striking psychological precision.

Why Rami Malek’s performance anchors the drama of Nuremberg

Rami Malek delivers one of the most compelling performances in Nuremberg by carefully tracing Douglas McGlashan Kelley’s psychological journey. Malek begins with the confidence of an ambitious psychiatrist. Gradually, the actor reveals a man shaken by the horrifying reality behind the prisoners he studies.

Malek’s scenes opposite Russell Crowe’s Hermann Göring form the dramatic center of the film. The exchanges resemble a calculated battle of intellect, with Kelley probing while Göring attempts to dominate the conversation. This tense psychological duel provides the narrative with its sharpest moments.

Many viewers praised Rami Malek for bringing quiet intensity to a complex historical figure. Critics frequently described the portrayal as captivating, especially during the moments when Kelley confronts the unsettling normality of the defendants. Some reviewers even argued that Malek’s work here rivals his celebrated performance in Bohemian Rhapsody.

However, not every critic admired the approach. A few reviewers felt Malek relied too heavily on mannerisms and stylized expressions. Even so, the actor’s intense focus and intellectual tension ensure that Douglas McGlashan Kelley remains one of Nuremberg’s most memorable characters.

Did Nuremberg succeed in doing justice to the real Dr. Douglas McGlashan Kelley? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra