Hitler: A Career (German: Hitler – Eine Karriere) is a 1977 West German documentary film about the career of Adolf Hitler directed by Christian Herrendoerfer and Joachim Fest and written by Fest, a German historian.[1][2][3]

Hitler: A Career
GermanHitler - Eine Karriere
Directed byChristian Herrendoerfer
Joachim Fest[1]
Written byJoachim Fest[1]
Produced byWerner Rieb[1]
Music byHans Posegga[1]
Release date
  • 1977 (1977)
Running time
150 minutes[1]
CountryWest Germany[1]
LanguagesGerman
English

Premise

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The film, exclusively utilising archival footage, closely examines Hitler's rise to power, and also aims to explain why people living in Germany loved Hitler. Fest argues that Hitler was a clever, scheming and incredibly adaptable politician, who was keen to exploit any weakness he saw in the political system and in the masses who, humiliated by the outcome of WWI, were willing to support a voice that spoke for them.[3]

Release

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The film was initially received with controversy among some critics, especially in Germany.[1][3][4] American historian Deborah Lipstadt wrote that by featuring extensive clips of Hitler from propaganda films and entirely ignoring the Holocaust, Fest had engaged in a glorification of a murderer.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Höhne, Heinz (26 June 1977) Faszination des Demagogen. (in German). Der Spiegel. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  2. ^ Geurts, Hans: "Hitler: A Career (1977)". (in Dutch). CineMagazine. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Mavis, Paul (10 November 2007) "Hitler: A Career (Hitler - eine Karriere)". DVD Talk. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. ^ Wenders, Wim (5 August 1977) That’s Entertainment: Hitler. Die Zeit. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  5. ^ Lipstadt, Deborah (1993) "Denying the Holocaust". Free Press. p. 212. Retrieved 24 August 2021. ISBN 978-0452272743
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