Search - The Death of Adolf Hitler on DVD

Worst Hitler movie I have ever seen

Justinian | NYC | 05/21/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is the worst of all of the Hitler bunker movies. Basically this is a film of British propaganda to make British people feel better about the tragedy that was the second world war. If you want to see a true historical representation of this period, watch "Downfall." There are so many historical inaccuracies in this that I lost count after the first 10 minutes or so.

1. Goering never cried in the bunker
2. Speer never admitted to Hitler that he tried to kill him (this is completely crazy, Hitler would of had him shot immediately.) This was only first known in Nuremberg.
3. Hitler did NOT wear his clothes to bed with Eva (Read Explaining Hitler by Ron Rosenbaum)
4. There were no lampshades of Jewish skin discussed in the bunker.

WATCH "DOWNFALL" FOR A TRUE FILM REPRESENTATION OF THE BUNKER....AVOID THIS!"

The Death of Adolf Hitler

Roderick Gildea | Adelaide, Australia | 04/18/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The film dramatises the last days and eventual suicide of Adolf Hitler in his Berlin bunker during April 1945. It was made for English TV back in 1973 but both the color and sound have transferred well to DVD. This was probably the earliest of a number of dramatised versions of Hitler's last days and suffers a bit in comparison to later productions but it is still an interesting and well performed drama. Note that since this production, a number of distinguished actors have portrayed Hitler on screen: Sir Alec Guinness (Hitler: The Last Ten Days), Sir Derek Jacobi (Inside the Third Reich), Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Bunker) and Bruno Ganz (Downfall).

In this version the very talented English actor Frank Finlay takes on the role of Hitler and not only gives a powerful performance as the raging and manic Fuhrer but also shows a more subdued and cynical character, particularly in scenes with his long-time mistress Eva Braun. In 1974 Frank Finlay deservedly won the British equivalent of an American Emmy for this role. Caroline Mortimer's portrayal of Eva Braun as a bright, lively and likeable young woman is also effective; so much so you start feeling sorry that she will soon die by Hitler's side. Much of the private dialogue between Hitler and Eva is obviously fictitious but the screenwriter (Vincent Tilsey) provides us with an interesting view of their strange relationship and, in the end, who can say what went on behind those closed doors. The rest of the cast work well to bring the other characters in the bunker to life, particularly Ed Devereaux as the creepy Martin Bormann. The problem is that most of the time we have no idea who these people are and what they do. Unless you have some prior knowledge of these events and can make educated guesses, this is certainly annoying. Yet the opening scene starts with a narrator who then fades away when he is most needed.

There are some historical inaccuracies in this production. The scene where Dr. Gebhardt (Head of the German Red Cross) explains that a lampshade in Hitler's study is made from human skin is pure invention. Even among all the horrors of the Holocaust, no evidence of this specific crime has ever been found. The scene where Hitler verbally abuses his secretaries for mislaying the order to physically liquidate the European Jews is also pure invention. According to the memoirs of Traudl Junge, one of Hitler's secretaries, he was always kind and courteous to his female staff right to the end. However, more importantly, we know from so many confirmed sources that this particular order to Himmler was verbal and was never put in writing. In any event, if Hitler had really wanted to claim responsibility for the murder of the Jews, he had the opportunity in his final political testament but failed to do so.
"

This could have been a High School drama production...

C. B. Miller | USA | 04/25/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Recently I saw this British TV production from early 1973 to compare with: "Hitler: The Last Ten Days"; "The Bunker" and "Downfall" (A/K/A Der Untergang). Of the four, it is by far the worst. It's hard to know where to begin. The production is cheap, has choppy edits and scenes, simplistic "wooden" portrayals, and puts forth a blatant agenda shown in contrived scenes throughout. Hitler is one dimensional and over the top in presentation (to a higher degree than even Sir Alec Guinness in the one star production of "Hitler: The Last Ten Days"); a tough feat. The acting is sadly comical. Hitler comes across as an insistent child; no flashes of the strong charismatic leader. Hitler goes around either - yelling, crying, or telling people, "...are you mad?!"

An example of the production: Dr. Goebbels and Hitler are sitting at a small table when they look at each other and then start pounding the table with their fists and yelling, "Blood, blood, blood, blood, blood!" They then laugh as if they were Dr. Evil from an Austin Powers movie.

In this version, principle players of the last days are missing. Eva scolds Adolf in the bedroom; Speer yells at Hitler and "dresses him down." Goring with a bad toupee cries like a baby at a military conference. I could go on but will just say, it pales beyond belief next to "Downfall"; especially if one has read more then Hugh Trevor-Roper's old book on the subject (see my review of that book) or seen the other Hitler films. It really is like watching a bad soap opera. I just wish I could give it zero stars.

At least the presentations of Hitler's last days have gotten better with every attempt. This one is by far the least accurate and worst as far as acting and production quality. Next in line is "Hitler: The Last Ten Days", which is almost a parody of the facts (see my review of that film) but rates higher then this one. Then would come the HBO production "The Bunker", with Sir Anthony Hopkins. The best and most accurate film to date on the subject is the German feature film, "Downfall" (A/K/A Der Untergang)."