Hitler: The Last Ten Days is a 1973 biographical drama film depicting the days leading up to Adolf Hitler's suicide. The film stars Alec Guinness and Simon Ward, and features an introduction presented by Alistair Cooke; the original music score was composed by Mischa Spoliansky. The film is based on the book Hitler's Last Days: An Eye-Witness Account (first translated in English in 1973) by Gerhard Boldt,[4] an officer in the German Army who survived the Führerbunker.
| Hitler: The Last Ten Days | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ennio De Concini |
| Written by | Gerhard Boldt Ennio De Concini Maria Pia Fusco Ivan Moffat Wolfgang Reinhardt |
| Produced by | Wolfgang Reinhardt |
| Starring | Alec Guinness Simon Ward Adolfo Celi Diane Cilento Gabriele Ferzetti |
| Cinematography | Ennio Guarnieri |
| Edited by | Kevin Connor |
| Music by | Mischa Spoliansky |
Production companies | Tomorrow Entertainment West Film |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer[1] (through MGM-EMI in the United Kingdom[2]) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 105 minutes[2] |
| Countries | United Kingdom Italy |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2,250,000 (US/Canada rentals)[3] |
Plot
editThe film opens with Hitler's 56th birthday, on 20 April 1945, and ends 10 days later with his suicide, on 30 April. Hitler becomes angry with Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, General Alfred Jodl, Wilhelm Burgdolf, Hans Krebs and Party Secretary Martin Bormann when Steiner and his German Forces fail to attack the Soviet Forces led by Georgy Zhukov. Hitler had hoped the result would mirror the 7 Years war led by Frederick the Great against Elizabeth and Peter the Third of Russia. Hitler is told by Joseph Goebbels that Hermann Goring, Heinrich Himmler and Albert Speer have betrayed him and are fleeing Germany. Hitler executes his future brother in law General Hermann Fegelein, married to Eva Braun’s sister Gretl Braun, just as Benito Mussolini executed his son in law Galeazzo Ciano in Italy. Hitler commits suicide with his wife, hoping to die as a hero to his country.
Cast
edit- Alec Guinness – Adolf Hitler
- Simon Ward – Hauptmann Hoffmann
- Adolfo Celi – General Hans Krebs
- Diane Cilento – Hanna Reitsch
- Gabriele Ferzetti – Field Marshal and Wehrmacht OKW Chief Wilhelm Keitel
- Eric Porter –Luftwaffe General von Greim
- Doris Kunstmann – Eva Braun
- Joss Ackland – General Wilhelm Burgdorf
- John Bennett – Joseph Goebbels
- John Barron – Dr. Stumpfegger
- Barbara Jefford – Magda Goebbels
- Valerie Gray – Helga Goebbels
- Ann Lynn – Traudl Junge
- Sheila Gish – Frau Christian
- Julian Glover – SS-Gruppenführer (General) Hermann Fegelein
- Michael Goodliffe – General Helmut Weidling
- Mark Kingston – Martin Bormann
- Timothy West – Professor und SS-Gruppenfuhrer (General) Karl Gebhardt
- Andrew Sachs – Walter Wagner
- Philip Stone – General Alfred Jodl
- Angela Pleasence – Traudel
Production
editLocation shooting for the film included the De Laurentiis Studios in Rome and parts of England.[citation needed]
Release
editThe film opened in 26 theatres in West Germany on the anniversary of Hitler's birth on 20 April 1973, which led to several groups objecting to the film. Initially, the movie was a moderate success at the box office.[5] In its first nine days at the Empire, Leicester Square in London, the film grossed £17,860 ($41,971).[6]
Home media
editThe film was released on DVD on 3 June 2008,[7] and was released on Blu-ray in September 2015.[8]
See also
edit- The Last Ten Days (1955), a film
- The Death of Adolf Hitler (Sunday Night Theatre episode) (1973), a British television film
- The Bunker (1981), a CBS television film
- Downfall (2004), a film
References
edit- ^ "Hitler: The Last Ten Days [Gli ultimi dieci giorni di Hitler]". Archivio del Cinema Italiano. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ a b "HITLER – THE LAST 10 DAYS (A)". British Board of Film Classification. 16 April 1973. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "Big Rental Films of 1973". Variety. 9 January 1974. p. 19.
- ^ Boldt, Gerhard (1973). Hitler's last days: An eyewitness account. Translated by Bance, Sandra (Hardcover, First Translated ed.). Arthur Baker. ISBN 978-0-213-16429-4.
- ^ "Showing 'Hitler: The Last 10 Days' Stirs Beefs From W. German Orgs". Variety. 23 May 1973. p. 37. Retrieved 10 May 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "West End Perks; 'Hitler' Wow $41,971, 'Thief' Robust $15,432, 'O Lucky Man' Zingy $18,133, 'Hide' Dim 3G, Both 2d". Variety. 23 May 1973. p. 37. Retrieved 10 May 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Hitler: The Last Ten Days (DVD ed.). 3 June 2008.
- ^ "Hitler: The Last Ten Days Blu-ray".