Der Bunker (1981) Online

As a military historian, I've probably seen every film depicting Hitler and the last days of the Third Reich there is. Some stand out. "Inside the Third Reich" with Derek Jacobi, and "Hitler: The Last Ten Days," with Alec Guinness, to name a few. But as slow and downright melodramatic as this film is, I think that Anthony Hopkins' Hitler is right on the money, A superb acting job with a difficult role. He brings the image of an old man, difficult, palsied, volatile, confused, distant and changeable as a chameleon on an acid trip to life for the screen. It's not hard to play the classic Hitler with fits of rages and dour looks, but there is a lot more to it, and Hopkins pulls it off magnificently. He literally ages before your eyes and the gray pallor of the Bunker's stone walls seems to seep into his skin with every scene. Jordan as Speer is believable, and the somber, dirgelike music pulls out the hopelessness of the last gasp of the Nazi rat pack's future. Accurately done, but Hopkins is the real star here. But as one other user commented, is it really so hard for a Brit or an American to manage a German accent? Do all civilized Germans sound as if they had been raised in coventry? Ach du Lieber!

A stunning portrayal by Hopkins. Unfortunately the other cast members (the male ones anyway) do not look enough like the ghastly originals (!) to be convincing. For example, Goebbels is well enough acted, as are they all, but he just does not have the cadaverous look of Dr. Joseph. The Reich architect Speer is portrayed as far too nice a man. He wasn't. The exception is Bormann. Michael Lonsdale is made to look a little like this detestable man. In bearing, size and demeanor Lonsdale captures the essence of Hitler's right hand man He kept in the background most of the time, but was nonetheless an extremely powerful figure in the Third Reich and his power comes over very well. A good script and well directed, this film is well worth watching, especially now that it is readily available, uncut, on DVD.

The Third Reich was a land of insanity from its very beginning. That insanity increased as time went on, and this movie offers a pretty good look at its last days, as Hitler and his entourage hole themselves up in a bunker underneath the Reich Chancellory and act as if they're actually accomplishing something, even as Germany is being systematically overrun by Allied armies.

Of most interest are the various performances and the manner in which the various personalities are portrayed. Anthony Hopkins' work as Adolf Hitler was very good - especially considering the difficulties involved in playing such a complex and controversial subject. I thought Hopkins nailed the emotional complexity of the man - deliberately hiding himself from the realities of the War, calmly sitting down to tea with his secretaries one minute, then launching into a deranged tirade against his generals the next, addicted to drugs administered by his personal physician. Those who did makeup for this also got Hopkins to look the part - well not perfectly, but pretty close. Where I thought Hopkins missed the mark a bit was in Hitler's physical state. Aside from some trembling, Hopkins' Hitler actually looked pretty healthy. Other actors have to be looked at as well though, because this movie isn't really about Hitler - it has more to do with how the various personalities involved interacted with Hitler.

Much of the movie revolved around Nazi architect Albert Speer. Richard Jordan handled the part well, although the portrayal of Speer was interesting - probably unavoidably so, since Speer was almost as complex a character as Hitler. In the movie, Speer comes across as basically a good guy, fighting against Hitler's insane plans. There's truth to that view, but it's too limited. Speer was a devoted disciple of Hitler, and his actions against Hitler began only when it became obvious that Germany would lose the war. For Speer, as long as Germany might win, the horrors of Nazism seemed acceptable. Something was lacking in Cliff Gorman's portrayal of Joseph Goebbels. A lot was right - the portrayal of Goebbels' fanatical devotion to Hitler and Nazism, his rabid anti-semitism and his cold as ice attitude - to the point of killing his own family without a second thought simply because he felt that without Hitler, there was no reason for any of them to live. Still, something about Gorman as Goebbels didn't work for me. He just didn't look the part, and I could never really equate the voice with Goebbels either. The third figure of significance was Martin Bormann, portrayed by Michael Lonsdale. Lonsdale was good here. Bormann was a rather shadowy character, and Lonsdale portrayed him that way. You could never really be sure what Bormann's priority was here - getting out of the bunker or staying loyal to Hitler. In fact, that's accurate, because above everything else, Bormann's main preoccupation was with power - whether represented by Hitler or someone else.

Largely missing from this account of these last days in the bunker (although it does pop up in the end) is the rather morbid and completely unreal question of who would succeed Hitler - as if there was going to be anything to succeed to. As I understand it, that was a rather serious issue in the bunker in those last days and weeks; it gets largely passed over in this movie. Basically, however, this is very well done. I particularly liked the last scene, when the machinist Hentschel (Martin Jarvis) throws papers in disgust at the radio when it announces Hitler's heroic death, "fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism," when Hentschel knew full well that Hitler had cowardly committed suicide and left everyone else to fend for themselves. Overall, I give this a 7/10

This is another one of those inexplicable films that should be out on DVD by now but isn't. There is so much 'dross' being released, yet this minor masterpiece with excellent performances from Hopkins remains locked away! A region 1 release is rumoured, but no date yet. It's been a while since I saw it, but I do remember being very impressed at the time. Another similar 1974 film exists with Alec Guiness playing the Fuhrer; "Hitler, the last ten days". My recollection is that the "Bunker" film had the edge. The Alec Guiness film was spoiled slightly by a series of strange comments from Hitler in his sealed room moments before he and Eva Braun commit suicide (obviously there were no witnesses to record this!). It was as though the film-makers added it in just in case anyone might find themselves admiring the Fuhrer for his resolute position! After the German masterpiece Downfall/ Untergang, it seems crazy not to be able to add this gem of a film to DVD collections crying out for it.........

The end of Nazi Germany was not a pretty sight. From a government that was the terror of the world in its final days was only able to direct the affairs of its citizens in an ever shrinking perimeter around the city of Berlin. Around the time FDR was inaugurated for a fourth term and took off for Yalta to discuss post war Europe with Churchill and Stalin, Hitler took refuge in a special bunker constructed way beneath the Reichstag. American bombers by day and British by night gave him like May Britt in The Young Lions no rest. Seemed like the logical thing.

But some like Martin Bormann played here quite eerily by Michael Lonsdale wanted Hitler to go to his mountain retreat of Berchtesgarden and conduct a resistance of attrition from there. That is the central theme of The Bunker. Anthony Hopkins as Hitler in a mad show of bravado won't do it.

Hopkins is a mesmerizing and total Hitler. By total I mean we see him in the big and small things. The big things like trying to keep the war he started going and dealing with treachery from that curious gang of subordinates like Goering and Himmler from cutting their own deals. These two play minor roles because they cut out early. Hitler is also seen in the small things, playing with Joe and Magda Goebbels children, playing house with Eva Braun, and caring for his faithful retriever Blondi whom in the end he poisoned. He genuinely worried about the dog not being able to fend for itself in the rubble of Berlin and it starving to death.

Of all the top aides around Hitler, I think hands down the sickest of the lot was Joe Goebbels. Cliff Gorman and Piper Laurie give matchless performances, twin studies in fanaticism. As their Aryan world crumbles around them, Joe and Magda decide they and their six children will not survive. Joe won't in any event, but Magda agrees that she and the kids don't want to live in a world run by non-Aryans and those Jews left that either survived or didn't fall into captivity. The two were matched in intensity for their devotion to Nazi ideology and in libidos that didn't quit. Joe who ran UFA studios in the Third Reich had a casting couch that was the envy of any Hollywood mogul, he had powers they couldn't imagine. But according to Albert Speer's post war memoirs, Magda Goebbels never sat home and let the grass grow under her feet.

According to Speer The Bunker also gets it right about Eva Braun. Susan Blakely plays her just like Speer describes her, just a power groupie before that term was invented without a political thought in her head. He also said she was personally kind and devoted and was always being approached by people seeking to influence Hitler in one thing or another. Curiously enough Benito Mussolini's mistress Clara Petacci is described the same way.

The Bunker is one of the best made for television films ever done. It gives quite an insight into the fanatical minds and mad politics that dominated Nazi Germany as well as a personal view of its leadership. Don't miss this one by any means.

I consider this one of Anthony Hopkins best 'early' performances. Hopkins immersed himself into the role of Hitler. In a review it was said after a typical Hitler tirade, Hopkins was so 'into' the role, he would have the room cleared so he could be alone and compose himself! Awesome, believable, performances by all other's involved also. Especial kudos to Richard Jordan as Albert Speer, Hitler's 'adopted' protege'. This film adaptation may be as close as we will come to what really happened in Hitler's bunker at the end of World War II.

Unless you understand the psychological make up of the German People and can clearly understand the German language it is hard to understand the absolute Charisma of Adolph Hitler or how the Third Reich came into being. This made for TV documentary is very accurate in its depictions, taken from interviews of an American officer over many years with the survivors of the events portrayed. The film chronicles the last 105 days of the life of Hitler and his inner circle from the moment he descends to the bunker in January 1945 until his death on April 30th of that year. Between the make-up and the acting of Anthony Hopkins you might well believe that Hitler was alive again, so compelling his performance. The late Richard Jordan gives one his finest performances as Reichsminister Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and later minister of munitions during the war. And to answer the carping critique of another commentator, everything I have read in history, which as it is my college major, is considerable, points to Speer's becoming a voice of reason and having a change of heart about the German Empire toward the end of the war. What was undeniable is the fact that those closest to him remained fanatically loyal, for the most part, some of them even pot the time that this film was made.

Two other outstanding performances were Michael Lonsdale (Moonraker) as Martin Borman and Piper Laurie as Magda Geobels, wife of Hitler's propaganda minister. She did kill her six children (or was it 7, I lost count) before dying with her husband in a suicide pact at the bunker. Whatever your feelings about Hitler, this film is a definite must see.

What went on in the last days of the Third Reich in Adolf Hitler's bunker? This tv film dares to answer that question. It is a first class work that should be shown more often. Anthony Hopkins is one of our acting icons like Olivier. He brings the same chilling conviction to the role of Adolf Hitler that he brought to Hannibal Lecter in Silence Of The Lambs. He portrays Hitler as a drug addicted shell of a man who was once invincible and he captures him at the end when all was lost. The most frightning scene in the film is where he explodes in rage at Albert Speer when he tells him that the war is lost. Hopkins captures all of the rage and madness that was Adolf Hitler, a demon in human form. It is at this point that I wanted to tip my hat to another fine thespian, Susan Blakely, she plays Eva Braun. She gives a wonderful performance as well. She is a first class actress who has never given a bad performance in anything that she has done and who has never been given the credit due her. They talk in this film about how Albert Speer tried to assassinate Hitler in the final days of the Third Reich. This is a blatant whitewash. Speer was lucky to escape with his life at the Nuremburg trial, he got off with twenty years. People called him "the Nazi who said he was sorry". That is all BS!!!!Speer willingly served Hitler for years! He knew of the concentration camps and approved of it. He was in on it from the very beginning and the son of a bitch should have ended his life with a hangman's noose around his neck! There was a writer who wrote a book about Speer called Albert Speer The Whole Story and I highly recommend it.

This is the true story of the infamous Nazi dictator with his historic downfall. The story of Hitler's last days in an underground bunker gives insight to his madness. Here in the midst of his lackeys the dictator played out the final act of his life . It's well played by Anthony Hopkins who won an Emmy prize for his excellent acting. Atmospheric cinematography and gloomy musical score by Brad Fievel. This television movie is finely written by prestigious scriptwriter John Gay and stunningly directed by George Schaeffer. Other adaptation about this historical character are : ¨Hitler(1962)¨ by Stuart Heisler with Richard Basehart, ¨Hitler : The last days(1973)¨ by Ennio De Concini with Alec Guinness and the best is ¨The Downfall¨ by Oliver Hischbiegel with Bruno Ganz.

The picture is correctly based on real events, adding more details , the deeds happened of the following manner : ¨Fuehererbunker¨(Leader's Bunker)is the subterranean headquarter below the Chancellery and its garden in Berlin where Hitler (Anthony Hopkins) spent his last days, from April 20 to 30, 1945. It was constructed during WW2 some 50 feet below the ground. It could be reached through the New Chancellery by descending a stairway from the butler's pantry. There were two levels, On the upper level was a dining passage separating six rooms on each side. At the end of the central passage a curved stair led down to Hitler's own deeper bunker. This area had seventeen rooms , all small, cramped , and uncomfortable : Hitler's suite of three rooms, a map room used for conferences, the dressing room and bedroom of Eva Braun(Susan Blakely), the bedroom of Dr Paul Joseph Goebbles(Cliff Gorman) and wife(Piper Laurie),the rooms of Dr Ludwig, lavatories and bathrooms, an emergency telephone exchange, a drawing room, guardroom, cloakroom and a dog bunker for Hitler's Alsatian bitch named Blondi, with her four puppies. Hitler spent hours before giant war maps, shifting colored pins about to locate units that no longer existed. By this time he was in a state of extreme nervous exhaustion : although only fifty-six, he moved as if he were prematurely senile. His health grew even worse the ministrations of his doctors(Frank Gatliff, Morris Perry). With the exception of Goebbles and Martin Bormann(Michael Londsdale), his secretaries and several others, his lieutenants began to desert him. He denounced Herrmann Goering(David King)for trying to usurp his leadership and Heimrich Himmler (Michael Sheard) for seeking to negotiate with the count Bernadotte and Allied. Albert Speer (Richard Jordan) his minister of Armaments and War Production , refused to carry out his orders for a scorched-earth policy. At last acknowledge defeat, the Fuehrer decided to leave the world in a gesture of Wagnerian self-immolation. In the early hours of April 29, 1945, he married Eva and immediately afterward dictated his last will and political testament, in which he justified his life and work. The next day he retreated into his suite and shot himself while Eva took poison to end her life. In accordance with his instructions, the bodies were dumped into a trough in the Chencellery garden,doused with gasoline and burned. From April 22 to May 1, 1945 , the following were present in the Bunker: Gen Keitel(John Paul), Gen. Hans Guderian(Brain Villa) , Col.Von Below(Julian fellows), Gen. Alfred Jodl(Steedman) , Major Gen. Rattenhuber(David Swift), Lieutenant Genen Fegelein (Terrence Hardiman), Dr. Ludwig Stumpfegger , among others.

A very good insight into the last days of 'Der Fuhrer' and his chums, charting the atmospheric goings on, in the bunker. Somewhat suspenseful and a narrative of the facts, but partly let down not by the performances of, but as, some have said on here already, the un-matched lookalikes. (I.e: Richard Jordan as Speer and the Goebbels one).

Though it has to be said, Anthony Hopkins gave another of his outstanding performances as Hitler. (Though I thought the moustache was a little broad - this may have been the light or the fact that it seemed more brown than black, like Hitler's).

Well worth watching. A comparative favourite of mine is 'Hitler, the Last Ten Days' which I still believe to be superior, though there are those who don't agree on here, on this review. A deciding factor I think was a better bunker, interjections of documentary footage mainly compromising Hitler's words and of course the lookalikes (John Bennett as Goebbels and Mark Kingston as Bormann, Doris Kunstmann as Eva Braun and an equally impressive Alec Guinness's Hitler). Watch them both!

A tour de force performance by Hopkins manages to propel this sometimes slow-moving docudrama. The supporting performances, especially by Piper Laurie and Richard Jordan, also drive this intensely psychological take on the last days of the Third Reich. One criticism though: is a German accent really that difficult for professional actors to mimic?

I am someone who loves history and have and always will be fascinated with what went down in World War II especially the last days of Hitlers life. However Anthony Hopkins performance is very laughable I could not take him seriously, when he went into his tirade I could not understand a thing he was saying. The only movie in my honest opinion that deserves praise is Downfall Bruno Gantz performance as Hitler is very believable, his performance gave me goosebumps and made me believe that he was really Hitler and that I actually there witnessing this.

If you want to see a real movie based on Hitlers last moments Downfall is that movie, it is in German which you can not ask for anything more. All performances who have tried to act as Hitler have failed, Bruno Gants is the only actor that needs to play Hitler. Anthony Hopkins performance makes Hitler into a raging, comical maniac where as, Bruno Ganz plays Hitler as delusional, hateful and cruel man -- but also human.

What a cast. And what a splendid job they all do in this description of Hitler's last days in the fortified bunker far beneath the Chancellery as World War II was closing in all around the Führer and the remains of his staff. And not one of the actors tries to fake a German accent.

Anthony Hopkins gives the finest portrayal of a living dead man that I've seen. There have been numerous other version, documentary and fictionalized, and some are fine productions but they don't achieve parity. Alec Guiness, for instance, gave us a Hitler who was annoyed by the disintegration of his armies and his plans, an exasperated leader who acts as if the automobile he's just bought is a lemon and not covered by a warantee. Luther Adler showed us a bitter madman. But Hopkins is modulated, quiet, quietly disturbed, his right hand trembling after the attempt on his life the year before. Hopkins' Hitler can no longer raise his injured right arm high enough to give the full salute. It's a stunningly precise and believable portrait. Suspicious, but not a raging paranoid. And under stress he lets loose a startling hiss. It's not surprising that Hopkins does such a good job in the role. He was my co-star in the superior "Road to Wellville" and I gave him a few pointers that helped him over the rough spots. He seemed put out when I charged him ten cents for the tutoring.

The central conflict here is between Hopkins and Albert Speer, his Minister of Arms and War Production. Speer was a brilliant architect and industrialist, a relatively young handsome officer played here by Richard Jordan. Hitler was fond of Speer, considering both of them -- the architect and the erstwhile painter -- to be artists. But now Hitler has issued orders that all of Germany be destroyed before the Allies get to Berlin. Speer objects. Hitler is adamant. Speer develops a plan to introduce poison gas into the vent that supplies air to the underground bunker, which will kill everyone inside, including Hitler. But after the last assassination attempt, Hitler has become double wary and self protective. The plan is dropped and Speer remarks that he'll not try another because "I think I only had one in me." Speer decides instead to agree to the destruction of Germany but will prevent it by bureaucratic stalling and by wrapping the process in red tape.

There are scenes between Hopkins and Jordan that are truly touching. Speer was perhaps Hitler's favorite among his staff. "My good architect; my GENIUS architect." Now Speer is telling him frankly that the war is lost. Well, nobody else is telling der Fürher that the war is lost. They know better, because the penalty for acting on that belief is death. But Hopkins BEGS Jordan for some sign of faith. Okay, Jordan believes the war is lost. But does he have faith in ME? Does he at least have HOPE? "Even THAT would satisfy me." Jordan is desolate and Hopkins is near tears as he implores his friend to give some positive response. It's like watching the tragic breakup of a love affair or a marriage. It seems impossible but Hopkins brings humanity to the most inhumane human being of his century. I can imagine the outcries against a portrait of Hitler that isn't a stereotype.

To make matters worse, we see him flirting with Susan Blakely as his mistress, Eva Braun. But if the viewer needs the usual clichés, they're available in occasional dissolves followed by flashbacks to better times, when Hitler and Speer first met, before Germany became a sewer, before the death factories began to churn out their product. But history is inexorable. As Berlin is encircled, desperate attempts are made to get out, to avoid the vengeful Russians by surrendering to Eisenhower in the west. The atmosphere in the littered and unguarded bunker itself follows secretary Traudl Junge's description -- the men on the remaining staff dance and carouse with the women and drink themselves into a stupor. It was a big party. The party atmosphere was enhanced by the mockery of a marriage between Hitler and Eva Braun. "Do you swear that you are of pure Aryan descent and free of hereditary diseases?" It's impossible not to be moved as the end approaches and Josef Goebbels invites his staff to a farewell party. The camera lingers on the faces of his children, some barely old enough to sing the heroic song, and all of whom he and his wife Magda will shortly kill by cyanide poisoning.

There have been a number of films about Hitler's last days, both feature films and documentaries. This is one of the best. Let's hope it's also the last. Who wants to watch a long, slow suicide?

Anthony Hopkins played the character of Adolf Hitler magnificently . he was totally in character .he did not over act.he showed great restraint. its the first movie which shows that Adolf Hitler was human being you may disagree with his deeds and his philosophy.but he was true lover of Germany. he lived for Germany and he died for Germany.

All the other characters played their part really nicely.film also shows how desperate Adolf Hitler was in his last days of great war.Germany was going to lose was and he was feeling pressure.

Its really a master work and movie lovers must give that a chance you will feel nice after viewing that movie and u will appreciate the performance of Anthony Hopkins .

A truly good performance here for Anthony Hopkins. I would say as good as the Bruno Ganz's one, back in 2004 for THE FALL. I won't add anything more to the other comments. A real great TV movie.

But just little thing, about characterizations of Adolf Hitler all over the years.

I you closely Watch footage film showing the dictator, the real one, you'll notice that his hair - at least in the last years of his life - did not fall on his forehead, the left side. It was ONLY in the early years, during his rise to power. And curiously, in all films - I must admit although that I don't exactly remember the Bruno Ganz portray - Hitler is shown with his hair falling on the left side of his forehead. I have always wondered why... And I guess I found out. It's only a way to hide the lack of resemblance between the actor playing Hitler and the Führer himself. Because in all memories Hitler had his hair falling on the left side of his forehead. But that just remains a little detail, that DOESN'T NOT point out any flaws in the performances and the quality of this little TV gem.

This made for TV film seems to be very rarely shown now. Anthony Hopkins becomes yet another actor to portray the German dictator. The films covers the period of Hitler when he ascends into his Berlin bunker up to and a little while after his suicide. It could be slow at times but if your a history buff it's a very detailed picture.

Told in large part from the viewpoint of "Albert Speer" (played by Richard Jordan) this film recounts the final months of "Adolf Hitler" (Anthony Hopkins) and his Third Reich as the Russian army steadily advances upon Berlin. Of particular interest is the performance of Laurie Piper (as "Magda Goebbels") whose dedication to Hitler was both fascinating yet scary at the same time. Also worth mentioning is the manner in which Anthony Hopkins managed to portray Hitler during this time when the Fuhrer's health and reason were failing him. In that regard it's no wonder that he won an Emmy Award and Piper Laurie was likewise nominated for one as well. Also of interest were the other characters who surrounded Hitler and stayed until the very end. All in all then, I thought that this was a very good film and for that reason I recommend it for those who enjoy movies of an historical nature. Above average

Anthony Hopkins displays a commanding presence as Hitler in this TV-made version of Hitler's final days in his underground Berlin bunker. Albert Speer, played by Richard Jordan, somewhat rivals him in prominence.

The film writers put a major focus on Hitler's scorched earth policy of the final days, to destroy civilian infrastructure and life staples of the German people as enemy armies advanced. This is without regard to their survival, and Hitler wants to kill anyone who resists. No Germans really wanted to obey this order, and only Martin Bormann and, we know, Dr. Goebbels, were willing to support it. Speer had received this order on March 19, 1945, and had no interest in enforcing it. He came to the Bunker on April 22, about 10 days before Hitler's death, and left shortly before it. Speer resists Hitler's orders to his face while swearing loyalty and vaguely agreeing to execute them, sort of, always citing obstacles. Later, he tells Hitler to his face he did not implement the orders. Whether this occurred is doubted by some historians. If it did, one might question Hitler's compassionate response.

As evil as he was, Hitler's hypnotic effect on all German people is a reality, and this remained until the days of his death. The women were blindly loyal, idolaters, but then they did not have to give him all the negative military news and be on the wrong end of his tantrums. As for the men who had to, even though they grimaced in the face of Hitler's rants and rolled their eyes behind his back, their faces and conduct at other times in Hitler's presence always seemed to reflect a sincere, unwavering loyalty and idolization. Ultimately, Hitler saw the German people as cattle just like the Nazi-declared inferior races, for he never showed any reluctance to inflict murder and cruelty on German soldiers and civilians. So, those who surrounded him — they liked the person, just not what he did? Hitler's female cook (played by Pam St. Clement) remarks "His eyes, so clear and strong as always. The man is a God…" Hopkins displays the intensity and mannerisms that director George Schaefer uses to make the audience understand this.

A distinctive feature here vs. other Bunker films is a substantial focus on the physical layout and maintenance of the Bunker and the people in charge of the maintenance: Machinist Johannes Hentschel (Martin Jarvis) is one of the main characters. We even see Speer considering the logistics of a poison attack on the Bunker as an alternative to letting the resistance to Hitler's scorched earth policy come to a head (another thing questioned by historians).

I got annoyed with the non-moderated British accents all over the place, but on the part of the supporting cast only (Hopkins' accent as Hitler, like that of Alec Guiness in "Hitler: The Last Ten Days," is not as bad as Robert Carlyle's in "Hitler: The Rise of Evil"). Setting this aside, the acting performances are all solid. Goebbels and Bormann are effectively portrayed as the disgusting persons they were. The generals and others are shown as combinations of military men and lackeys who occasionally show some sense of right and wrong. I have noticed that Bunker films — after all, this is the movies — tend to portray the German women as quite glamorous, and Eva Braun (Susan Blakely) and Magda Goebbels (Piper Laurie) are eye Candy, along with other ladies. Richard Jordan is a dapper, handsome Speer, not creepy at all. Maybe the real Speer did not want to liquidate all German civilians, but Jordan's portrayal does too much kindness to a creepy guy. No worries, for Hopkins as Hitler is the focal point, and any human feelings he shows are superseded by the obvious incarnate evil he represents.

Adolph Hitler outranks the devil for the number of movies made about him. Yet as much as I liked the German films : The last 10 days of Adolph Hitler and Downfall and as much as I love Anthony Hopkins as an actor, Hopkins played a flat footed Hitler. Hopkins is too English to be Hitler. As good an actor as Hopkins is, I doubt he'd get more than a yawn from a political gathering. Could Hopkins get a single zeig much less a heil?

Hopkins' performance would have played better in THE PRODUCERS.

If Hitler orated the way Hopkins delivered an authentic AH speech at the end of this film, would Hopkins have revv-ed 61 million Germans up to march in step, commit atrocities and fight 250 million Russians and 250 million Americans at the same time? No sir! Hopkins was not a very good Hitler.

At the end of the TV movie, there was a credit to the Trevor Roper book The Last days of AH. I didn't see it mentioned in these pages.

Like most in the AH genre the film does not mention Hitler's double alluded to in the Toland work.

Not the worst piece of crap I have ever sat through, but darn near close. A bunch of film students at a state college could have produced something of this caliber. First of all, Nazis with British accents? That was the first indication that the director would be asking the viewer to suspend one's disbelief. Then, Anthony Hopkins as Adolph Hitler? Charlie Chaplin could do a better job. Hopkins performance was a parody of Hitler. Was he serious? When the director yelled cut, did the entire cast break out in giggles? At times he portrayed Hitler as a jolly Englishman. When it began to fall apart all around him, he was a ranting lunatic, but not a very believable ranting lunatic. Der Undergang ( The Downfall ) was the most powerful movie I have ever watched. It is a German made movie with an all German cast. The language is in German with English subtitles. It makes you feel you were right there in the bunker in the final days. You felt what those who were actually a part of this history felt. This made for television movie was so inferior that it made me wince at how bad it was.

I saw this film when it was originally on TV in 1981, and then just recently on VHS. I can think of at least three scenes that were cut out on the video. Good performance by Hopkins.

The last days of Shicklegruber...again. In some way this film becomes the story of Albert Speer rather than Hitler. Speer was a technical advisor on the set and beefed up his historical role. So Richard Jordan as Speer is as important a character as Hopkins. Where Hopkins is hysterical and overbearing Jordan underplays, undermines. The effect is to have us believe there was some rational thought in these last days of the Third Reich.

Yet another TV rewrite of history but at least it gives Jordan one of his best roles...

The movie attempts to depict the final days of the charismatic leader Hitler in his bunker. There are two kind of people around him, one hardcore loyalist who would never desert him and the other "good riddance".

Fuhrer is shown here to be completely lost, incapable of taking decisions, confused speech, fire in belly nearly extinguished, waking up heavy heartedly to lead another day of existence and seriously contemplating to reinvent himself as a clone of Buddha. Whether Hitler truly was, is a matter of debate best left to historians, biographers and auto-biographer.

It goes without saying that Anthony Hopkins is completely miscast. Perhaps Mr. Hopkins took this on board hoping to bring him laurels & statuettes however in spite of his best efforts it falls flat. He attempts to mask it up with a performance comprising of estranged look and long drawn silences.

In an attempt to integrate Anthony Hopkins with Hitler he ends up a character who seems to be as result of genetic experiment gone wrong. So you will three personalities to a character namely Hitler, Anthony Hopkins and a third which I seriously hope who never was.

Hopkins is superb and Hugh Trevor Roper said last year it was the most accurate to date i wont argue.

Hopkins played late 44 early 45 Hitler perfect, Gans was good but inaccurate and made for German/Austrian cinema so very watered down.

This is superb and worth watching for anyone a fan of the era.

Long live Hopkins and long live this part of history.

The only downfall is the English accents but like i said the Gans version is wholey commercial and the Goebboels is a dreadful look alike.

Hitler will go down as one of the great vilans along with stalin, Blair, Polpot and Bush but the Fueher did it the best.

Seig!

This film is poorly scripted and the actors are left stuck with weak characters who seem very rational at times yet laughable at others, in particular the performance of Anthony Hopkins is a mixture of babble and ranting . The general setting is far too calm, too sterile for this time and the film is historically not entirely accurate as certain people who were there and played key roles in Hitler's wartime life and final days were not portrayed at all!