Hitler: The Last Ten Days

Excellent film about the final days of Adolph Hitler and his last stand in the legendary Berlin Bunker. The opening credits are outstanding as they give the viewer a quick history lesson of German conquest and loss from 1939 up to 20 April 1945. All actors in this picture do a brilliant job with Alec Guinness leading the way as the Bohemian Corporal himself.

"The last ten days" was dwarfed by another recent movie dealing with the same subject.This latter movie ,however ,owes a good deal to the Italian/German effort which was made 35 years ago and which holds up very well,thanks to Alec Guiness's sensational performance which easily equals that of Bruno Ganz .Ganz was more credible only because he used his first language: German speaking English,it does not always ring true .Historians often write that the 1973 effort was often historically accurate.

Filmed in color (in the bunker) or in bleak black and white in Berlin in ruin: pictures of destruction,of death and of terror ,with snatches of "Das Lied der Deutschen" as a pathetic dirge.Inside the bunker,a man who still believes he is something like a messiah ,and in front of his "apostles", he seems to play the part of a martyr.Outside the walls ,soldier boys are fighting -one of them even gets a laughable medal- "Hitler:the last ten days" is a movie to remember.

"Hitler: The Last Ten Days" is watchable chiefly due to the remarkable portrayal of the Nazi dictator by Alec Guinness. Guinness sought to portray Hitler as a man and succeeds in his efforts.

The opening credits, narrated by Alstair Cooke are noteworthy in giving a 5 minute history lesson bringing the viewer up to date - April 20, 1945 in the Berlin bunker of Adolph Hitler. The acts of Hitler in the final 10 days of his life, bizarre and murderous to the end, are worth watching only because of Guinness. He has the mannerisms and although I've never met Hitler, after watching this film, I felt that I had. The physical resemblance is startling.

Most frightening scene: Hitler's worst tantrum ever after finding out he had been "betrayed" by his generals. Alec Guinness goes from hysterical rage to sobbing "the war is lost" and makes you feel the terror his underlings must have felt.

"Hitler: The Last Ten Days," is a fine film and one of the better attempts -- in events, in people, in atmosphere and personal quirks -- at historical accuracy on any subject. Alec Guinness is excellent as Hitler and captures well his stiff mannerisms and stern bearing, as well as his hysterical outbursts. Beginning with a celebration of the Fuhrer's last birthday, the atmosphere grows gradually more and more depressing, while Hitler from time to time peppers his entourage with his disoriented visions of an actual victory to come; this is foiled with very brief "real" vignettes of historical truth--what is actually happening as Hitler speaks. Oh well, there are a lot of pretty women (certainly, Doris Kuntsmann is much more attractive than was Eva Braun) and cream desserts, as well as musical interludes, to keep one still interested.

Hitler's ravings at his generals and their reactions are very well done, as in "Winds of War." Adolfo Celi, best known as Largo in "Thunderball," is good as General Krebs, not a household name, but Hitler's chief sounding board in the film. In his countenance we see the growing despair, the occasional protest, the sad and awkward facial expressions indicating wait, aren't there checks and limits (and reality) to you, can people really be as evil as you want them to be, are those who stand accused by you really deserving of your characterization? The final scene, with Hitler and Eva just before their suicide, is an interesting interpretation and captures the extreme utter selfishness and cruelty of the Fuhrer's character.

This starts with a recap of the Nazi rise to power. The opening credits roll as German forces roll through a map and then they retreat back towards Berlin. It's April 20, 1945 and the Russians are closing in on his Berlin bunker. It's the 56th birthday of Adolf Hitler (Alec Guinness) and ten days before he commits suicide. It's a delusional place where Hitler directs non-existent and depleted forces. There is an air of unreality. After Hitler's death, the remaining personnel light up their cigarettes which was forbidden during his life. It's purported to be based on eye-witness accounts of the true events. Guinness brings his legendary acting prowess to the character. It's not the most thrilling story especially since the ending is inevitable. It's a methodical telling. It is the performance that holds it all together.