User Reviews

What a godawful true story. So depressing. The same story is told in Fritz Lang's "Hangmen Also Die."

This is the story of the destruction of one town, Lidice, in Czechoslovakia after the assassination of a Nazi commandant, Reinhardt Heydrich, played by John Carradine.

All the men were killed, the women sent to camps, their children taken from them. All buildings and all land were set on fire.

One of the 17 children who survived became the mayor of the rebuilt town. 143 women survived.

This is an unsparing propaganda film. So much suffering by innocent people at the hands of brutal, sadistic Nazis.

HITLER'S MADMAN 1943

This Producer's Releasing Corporation production is one of several put out by various studios dealing with the assassination of Nazi bigwig, Reinhard Heydrich.

The film is also the first film made in Hollywood by future hit-maker, Douglas Sirk.

It is June 1942, and the British parachute several Czech agents into their homeland to stir up trouble. They want the locals to sabotage the massive munitions and armaments factories situated throughout Czechoslovakia. The Czechs had ended up with quite a few heavy industries after the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

Needless to say the Nazi types are not amused with this idea. Hostages are taken and the slightest whisper of dissent brings swift action by the Gestapo. In charge of the country, is the highly efficient, Heydrich. Heydrich is played here with particular glee by a blonde haired John Carradine. A perfect Nazi swine is Carradine , he smiles while signing death warrants , while at the same time he picks out young girls to serve as "comfort" girls for the troops on the Eastern Front.

The main leads here are Alan Curtis as the Czech agent, and his girl, Patricia Morrison. Also in the mix are, Edgar Kennedy, Jimmy Conlin and Alan Shean. At first the locals are reluctant to rise up against the Nazi types. That changes after Carradine has the local priest shot, and grabs up several of the village girls.

Heydrich is then bushwhacked on a forest road and badly wounded. He lingers on in hospital for several days before dying in agony. The Germans of course retaliate and round up the village women, shoot all the men, then raze the village, (Lidice) to the ground.

The story plays fast and loose with the actual facts of the event. But so what, it is meant to be a flag-waver, and as such it works. Most war films produced at the height of the conflict had gobs of anti-Axis propaganda.

MGM was so impressed with the film, that they bought the finished product from PRC and released it themselves. Needless to say the film turned a profit.

The director, Douglas Sirk, was a German Ex-pat who escaped Germany in 1939 and came to Hollywood. By the 1950's he was turning out big money earners like, WRITTEN ON THE WIND, ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION, IMITATION OF LIFE and ALL I DESIRE. He also scored with an earlier series of film noir productions such as, LURED, SLEEP MY LOVE and SHOCKPROOF.

Look close and you will see a 21 year old Ava Gardner in an unbilled bit.

Real monsters really existed, and while Dracula, Bluebeard and all those mad doctors were nefarious, none were as evil as the Nazi leader he plays here, thriving on the misery of the Czech's in this quaint village. No non-Nazi escapes from his inhumane treatment, and with pleasure, he has a priest shot, drives a young girl to suicide (and then mocks her choice for freedom), and sends innocent men to the Russian front. But like others in occupied Europe, the people stand up and take matters into their own hands. As history has shown, the Nazi's won many battles, but ultimately lost the war and their immortal souls.

As I scream "Die, Nazi, die!" one more time at a viewing of this as the villains get what they deserve (wishing it was nastier and slow and painful), this elaborate propaganda film shows the atrocities. Filmed by the low budget PRC but released by MGM's B unit to give it bigger build- up, this has so much going for it. Future Broadway legend Patricia Morison is a fine young heroine who refuses to back down from teaching youngsters the Czech national anthem, while Ralph Morgan is outstanding as her father who takes things into his hands.

Ludwig Stossel, a Nazi victim in "All Through the Night" plays a traitor to his own people and pays for his crimes against humanity. The legendary dramatic stage actress Blanche Yurka has several key scenes as a town matron, but is surprisingly unbilled. Every role is cast perfectly, and the technical achievements are brilliant as well. As directed by a young Douglas Sirk, this ranks as one of the great world war II anti-Nazi films that reminds us that the fascists of the world will pay one way or another, yet the world never seems to learn that lesson.

***SPOILERS*** The second movie- The other "Hangmen also Die"- out of Hollywood in 1943 about the massacre of the people, Men 16 and over, of the Czech town of Lidice in the spring of 1942 by the Nazis. That in retaliation for the assassination of the country's Reich Protector Reinhard "Hangman" Heydrich, John Carradine, who was fatally injured-he died a few days later- by Czech resistant fighters lead by British based local boy Karel Vavra, Alan Curtis. Heydrich for his part was really asking for it in how he treated the local Czech population with total disrespect for their men, who more or less put up with it, and especially the women whom he treated like they were street hookers.

Always trying to outdo himself and get the Czechs to hate him even more then they already do, if that's at all possible, Heydrich guns down the local priest Father Cemlanek, Al Shean, who mildly protested his actions against the Catholic Church. This action by the "Hangman" finally got the Czech population to wake up and plan to do Heyderich in the first chance they got to get a crack or shot at him. This was when he was driving through the countryside in his armor plated Mercedes totally unprotected by his Gestapo goons. As he's dying from his wounds from an ambush Heydrich is promised by his boss SS chief Heinrich Himmler,Howard Freeman,that he'll have the nearest Czech village-Lidice-to his assassin site wiped off the map to show the world that he means business.

****SPOILERS**** We've seen it all before as well as since with the Germans acting like the movie calls them "Madmen" in wiping out the entire village of Lidice for the death of just one man whom almost all those in the tragic village had nothing at all to do with. As for the dying Heydrich he seems to have a vision of things to come, the complete defeat of Nazi Germany,by telling Himmler that he'll soon suffer, together with Hitler & Co., the same fate he's soon to suffer. As history showed Himmler was to kill himself less the three years later on May 23, 1945 by swallowing a vile of poison hidden in his mouth while in the custody of the British Army. P.S Check out a young 21 year old Ave Gardner as one of the young Czech women who were to be sent to the Russian Front by Hydreich to "entertain" the German troops!

"Hitler's Madman," released in 1943, stands as a remarkable example of American wartime propaganda cinema that manages to strike a chord of authenticity. Director Douglas Sirk, typically associated with 1950s melodramas, brought a unique perspective to this project, given his German background and firsthand understanding of Nazi ideology.

The film delves into an anomalous publicized chapter of Nazi brutality: the vengeful massacre of Lidice, a Czech town. In this heinous act, all adult males were ruthlessly murdered, while women and children were dispatched to concentration camps, where most met their tragic end. This atrocity was a response to the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, whom Hitler dubbed "the man with the iron heart."

John Carradine's portrayal of Heydrich carries a chilling resemblance to the Nazi leader. While Carradine effectively captures Heydrich's sadism in pivotal scenes, a touch of charm could have made his character even more sinister. Particularly striking is Heydrich's visit to a university in Prague, where he berates intellectuals, dooming male students to the Russian front and women to sexual slavery in brothels. A powerful moment unfolds as a student, Klara, chooses to end her life by leaping from a window rather than succumb to Nazi depravity.

In another grim scene, Heydrich publicly executes a priest during a procession. While historical accuracy regarding Heydrich's direct involvement in such acts is debatable, reprisals against civilians on baseless charges were tragically common.

Interestingly, the film began as a documentary but was transformed into a dramatic narrative by Louis B. Mayer of MGM, who was deeply impressed by it. One of the standout additions is Heydrich's deathbed scene after being mortally wounded during an assassination attempt. Heydrich, once formidable, reveals vulnerability, expressing his fear of death to Himmler (played by Howard Freeman). However, Freeman's portrayal of Himmler falls short, depicting him as a stereotypical sadist and inaccurately overweight, contrasting with Himmler's real-life slender and gaunt appearance.

The film shifts its focus to the plight of Lidice's residents. Karel Vavra (Alan Curtis), a Czech paratrooper sent from London to assassinate Heydrich, emerges as the central character. His childhood sweetheart, Jamilla Hanka (Patricia Morison), adds depth to the story. Jamilla's tragic fate serves as a martyrdom symbol for the resistance.

Jamilla's father, Jan (Ralph Morgan), undergoes a significant transformation from initial reluctance to join the resistance to becoming a determined participant after the murder of the village priest. It's worth noting that the film takes liberties with the historical accuracy of Heydrich's assassination, with most characters being composites or creations for dramatic effect.

Ludwig Stossel's portrayal of Mayor Bauer, a loyal ethnic German under Nazi rule, is noteworthy. His character's fate illustrates the fragility of those who appease their oppressors until they become scapegoats for major events.

The film's climax, depicting the harrowing roundup and murder of Lidice's inhabitants, may not fully capture the horror of the actual event. However, in the context of 1943, when details about Nazi atrocities were not widely known, it still delivers a powerful emotional punch. As the haunting images of the murdered townspeople fade in and out while their voices resonate, audiences of the time likely began to grasp the true extent of Nazi malevolence. "Hitler's Madman" is a compelling testament to the power of cinema as a tool for conveying historical truths and stirring emotions during a tumultuous period in history.

Dramatization regarding Lidice, Czechoslovakia and its fate following the death of Heydrich, Nazi-protector of the city.

We find agricultural people, many of whom are apolitical and willing to lead their lives under Nazi rule.

One man who had gone to England returns with others and their goals are for sabotage.

John Carradine, as Heydrich, is the ruthless, outrageous leader who is willing to do anything to maintain strict order and control.

One of the towns leading citizens shows his contempt when a priest is shot down during a town festival for violating group gatherings.

Carradine, in his dying words, is not exactly flattering to the Nazi cause, but Himmler uses his assassination to speak of unspeakable horrors which befell the citizens of Lidice.

The tension is constant as a people show their determination to show right from wrong in society.

Although it was overshadowed by Lang's "Hangmen also die" , "Hitler's madman" seems closer to Borzage's "the mortal storm" ,with its depiction of life in an occupied town.But the finale was probably borrowed from Abel Gance's "J'accuse" (1919 and 1937) and its "wake of the dead" sequences.

Great sequences: the professor of philosophy resuming his lecture in front of the Nazis (there is a similar sequence in "the mortal storm");the female student,refusing to be treated as a beast ;the admirable scene where the mayor's wife,reading that her sons are dead, and cursing the "Fuhrer" (a famous lullaby the name of which I cannot remember ,makes a very moving score, as she remembers her boys' childhood).The hangman, in his bed and begging for morphine,as he too realizes that the Third Reich means nothing when you're dying.

Probably Sirk's best forties film .In the fifties,he would come back to WW2 and the Nazi barbarity with a work I consider his masterpiece : "A time to love and a time to die" (1958),from the great German pacifist writer Erich Maria Remarque's novel.

The background for this motion picture is quite interesting, maybe more interesting than the film itself. It's an excellent piece of anti-Nazi propaganda...a "B" film turned out by personnel from poverty row studio PRC. Some of them were top-tier filmmakers in Germany such as cinematographer Eugen Schufftan, and of course, director Douglas Sirk. So despite the low budget, it's made by very competent craftsmen.

MGM boss Louis Mayer liked the film so much, he bought it from the original financiers when they were looking for a distributor. This delayed its release into theaters, since Mayer wanted scenes reshot and a few more added. This meant a film made on a shoestring suddenly had its budget expanded, and the end result is something I'd call a B+ (or A-) picture.

Sirk, Schufftan, and one of the original producers (Seymour Nebenzal) were Germans in exile, and they depict the Nazis in a more realistic way than other films covering the same ground. The people of Lidice, Czechoslovakia are presented realistically too-- the entire village of Lidice was wiped out by the Nazis.

When the Nazis gained power in Eastern Europe and took over neighboring countries, they would station "protectors" over these acquired regions. The high-ranking officials reported to Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. Underneath them were other officials and town mayors. In this case, the mayor of Lidice is a man who has turned on his people and sworn allegiance to The Fuhrer. Lidice's mayor (Ludwig Stossel) is presented as a fat buffoon who doesn't have his people in line. And this will cause problems later.

The protectors would usually drive through the various regions under their control and if something seemed off to them, the mayor and local police would be notified. One day the protector of this region (John Carradine) notices a religious assembly in Lidice. His vehicle stops, he hops out with his men, and they confront the local priest and townsfolk. Carradine is angry, because the people do not have a permit to gather in public.

During a quarrel with the priest, whom Carradine is trying to provoke, the priest is shot and killed. This is the first real violence in the area. Carradine plans to drive back through the village the next morning to see if the mayor has gotten the people back in line.

Before Carradine appears, life is idyllic. The people of Lidice may be under German control, but their way of life has not changed drastically. A resistance fighter (Alan Curtis) shows up; he's a Czech who's been working with American and British allies in England. He is reunited with his girlfriend (Patricia Morison), and he tries to convince her father (Ralph Morgan) to resist the Nazis.

It isn't until Carradine kills the priest that Morgan and the townsfolk realize they need to take a stand against the Nazi regime. The mayor's wife also sides with them, because her two sons were killed on the Russian front fighting for the Fuhrer, which upsets her terribly.

In real life Carradine's character was ambushed along a road outside Lidice. Sirk's film depicts that, though it takes dramatic license with some of it. This version has Curtis' girlfriend ride a bike into the middle of the road to slow down Carradine's jeep, so that Curtis and Morgan can get off a few good shots with their rifles.

The real life ambush did not involve any women, and the death of Carradine's character occurred much quicker. The movie drags it out for maximum dramatic effect-- before Carradine dies, we see Curtis run off with Morison; then she is shot and killed by Nazi soldiers in the woods.

After their love story concludes, we have a lengthy death scene for Carradine. Just before he finally goes to that big swastika in the sky, Himmler arrives to see him. The movie fails to include an interesting fact about the protector's death, such as how he refused to let local Czech doctors treat his injuries, since he felt these men were inferior to German doctors.

After Carradine dies, the last ten minutes are devoted to a bloody reprisal against the village of Lidice. During a comical phone call with Hitler, Himmler decides to destroy the entire village.

The atrocities committed against the people of Lidice are staggering. Although HITLER'S MADMAN was made during the production code era, the firing squad scenes are rather graphic. Probably because the film had been originally made at PRC. If the story had started at MGM with an American director, my guess is it would have been much tamer, more sanitized.

The scenes of mass death, and the fires that level the village are expertly staged, and the movie ends on a very somber note. However, the final sequence is also presented as something meant to inspire audiences...where moviegoers should want to carry on and fight the Nazis on behalf of those who were slaughtered that day, the 10th of June 1942, in Lidice.

A few things crossed my mind when I watched HITLER'S MADMAN. First, I don't think the Nazis and their underlings were ever buffoons. I'd say they were very brutal, very calculating. Eradicating a village was an extreme act that was in every way imaginable, a deliberate (and in their minds, justifiable) measure.

Second, Sirk had actually met the man whose character Carradine is based on, so it's interesting that he ended up becoming a "biographer" of Reinhard Heydrich through the art of motion pictures; one German denouncing another. Third, the event occurred early during America's involvement in the war. Americans entered the war in December 1941. The massacre of Lidice took place just six months later, and there would be another three years before Hitler and Himmler were brought down. Fourth, it's a powerful film that must have been shocking for audiences, particularly the final sequence. It's powerful and shocking to watch now, all these years later.

Fifth, I think there is still a lot of radical militant behavior occurring in the world today, some of it in our own country; so this movie and the legacy of Lidice is just as relevant as ever. And finally, I think this is a movie you have to watch with all other distractions drowned out. It's something where you have to embrace the propaganda, yet put it into perspective, but also realize the deeper message about the value of human life. The Nazis wanted to remove all traces of Lidice. But Sirk's film helps Lidice live. And if you watch HITLER'S MADMAN and absorb its message, you will be helping Lidice live.