 |
| Available at Amazon.com |
In looking at stuff for this movie after watching it a couple of times, I found out Hitler is played by Alec Guiness; I knew that the first time I watched it, but what I didn’t know was, Guinness also played Obi Wan in Star Wars. Crazy, I know. Obi Wan and Hitler, not exactly the same type of people.
But Guinness does a great job of playing Hitler. In this movie, which covers, as you might guess, the last ten days of Hitler’s life, Hitler has a wide range of moods and comes off quite insane from time to time. It’s not quite insane, it’s more so complete determination and refusal to admit defeat. Throughout the briefings that take place during the film, Hitler continues to totally believe his armies will prevail even when all of his generals basically tell him, they are doomed and they have no chance of winning. He responds by firing commanders and calling them all cowards.
Hitler also spends his time planning the massive buildings he plans to build after the war and entertaining guests for his birthday and wedding to Eva Braun.
The movie is historically accurate as well, and the dialog also is historically accurate. As the screenplay was written with the help of a German official (Gerhard Boldt) who was in the bunker where the film takes place. And he used his memory to make the screenplay as accurate as possible, which in turn makes Hitler: The Last Ten Days as accurate as possible.
The acting is very good, Guiness does his great work, and everyone else plays well off of him. Guinness’s facial expressions are outstanding at giving depth to the character and shows deeper emotions than the dialog lets on. It’s great work all around.
The movie is a good blend of historical footage and film-making. The editing between the two is also well done.
The audio is a little off in a few places, but nothing that detracts to much from the overall movie.
Hitler: The Last Ten Days is presented in 1:78 Wide screen format. The audio isn’t defined.
No extras.
For a movie made in 1973, it holds up very well. The acting is very good. It’s based on one of the most historically significant and interesting people of all time. And it shows him in a different light. It’s a terrific look into the behind the scenes end of a tragic life.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Legend Films and Tomorrow Entertainment Presents Hitler: The Last Ten Days. Directed by Ennio De Concini. Starring Alec Guinness, Adolfo Celi, Doris Kunstmann and Eric Porter. Written by Ennio De Concini, Maria Pia Fusco, and Wolfgang Reinhardt. Running time: 106 minutes. Rated PG. Released on DVD: June 3rd, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.
About Chad Jorgenson
