Review of Town Without Pity

This film is perhaps one of the very first which discloses the sad fact that in a rape trial conducted by Americans the victim is further victimized. A key element in this story not mentioned by those reviewing it here is defeated Germany was then under U.S. military occupation and the strict rules of the U.S. Army were still in affect for the most part. To protect the conquered civilians rape committed by soldiers was punishable by the death sentence. (Dozens were hanged during World War 2.) The defense lawyer was determined to protect his clients from such punishment. In fact, he had warned the victim's family that back home he was highly successful and attempted to dissuade them from going forward with the trial. Not mentioned by him were the methods American lawyers employ to win such cases and he proceeded to do just that. Eventually the victim's father withdrew her from the case and the soldiers were allowed to walk knowing that they had gotten away with a crime without punishment. It would be helpful if there were more films made in which the occupying army executed rapists and since rape is the most difficult crime to prosecute there is the strong probability that many of those convicted may have been innocent.