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mikeMayberryFL-562-17626
Reviews
Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
This movie has not aged well.
Movie is unintentionally very funny as Sir Alec is an odd combination of Obi-Wan Kenobi & Master Gomez Addams doing a VERY British Hitler. "Spring Time" for Hitler anyone? The use of black & white archive footage inter-cut with the bunker footage is well done. The casting of Sir Alec Guinness was the first mistake. For once it would be nice to see a German actor portray a German character. The Hitler anger and rage scenes were an obvious copy of all the mannerisms Hitler used when making his public speeches. To me this great Shakespearean actor could not find the right combination of voice and gestures to bring off the explosive temper of der Fuhrer. I did see a much more refined style for the quiet, interior thought moments of Hitler by Sir Alec. The casting was all over the place. Especially glaring was Adolfo Celi (a Bond villain) as a German general with an Italian accent. The tradition of casting British actors as Nazis should have been maintained throughout this film. The handsome (amazing profile) Simon Ward was also a total waste as his character arch from Hitler worshiper to disgruntled Nazi was hollow. The military conference scenes did shed some light on how cowardly the German High Command staff was in their inability to confront Hitler about his disastrous military decisions. The only thing to remember about this long forgotten project is that England's greatest actor should never accept a role where he has to mime the world's greatest villain.