Schindler’s List is broadcasted on TV and is the first movie televised completely without commercial interruption

Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List is a feature film that re-creates the horrendous period of the Holocaust during World War II. It highlights the vicious and ruthless treatment of Jews when they were executed and forced into labor camps by the Nazis.

On this day, February 23rd, in 1997, the three-and-a-half hour long Holocaust drama, Schindler’s List, airs on NBC without commercials. This black and white film was seen by 60 million people and sponsored by Ford Motor Company.  With its mature content, it was the first ever movie to display TV Guide’s rating TV-MA which means that it was unsuitable for children under 17. The brief nudity and violence raised political controversy, and Senator Tom Coburn said that it was an insult to people everywhere. However, Republicans and Democrats criticized his remarks and Coburn later apologized publicly on CNN.

The film took $23 million dollars to produce and made a gross profit of $300 million. In 1997, Schindler’s List won 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and a few others. Although Spielberg was accused of profiting from a tragic event in history, he did not take any money from the earnings because he considered it to be blood money.