The best documentaries manage to do two things at the same time: First they teach those who don't know anything about a subject about that subject. At the same time they will enlighten those already knowledgeable on a subject in some way either with new information or a different point of view.
The film Hitler A Career manages to do both.
Made in 1977 in Germany I have yet to see a documentary on Hitler that is as good as this. Focusing on Hitler this film basically shows you who he was and why he did what he did. This is Hitler in his words and deeds with some very good narration tying it all together. Take for example the opening sequence of a speech Hitler gave when he came to power. Not only do we really get to see and hear a good portion of the speech but we are made very aware of how Hitler is speaking. The slow building nature of the oratory, the pauses, the hand gestures, its all laid out. I had read about how he gave a speech but until this film I never real saw how he did it. The film then moves on and put Hitler into the context of the time and himself. Its done in such away as to be filled with many "Ah Ha!" moments. We don't see things that don't relate to the man, we just see the things that he did, influenced him and reacted to. Most films on Hitler try to show you some larger picture, this film doesn't, its presenting the man as a man and not a cypher or a personification of evil and the understanding you get is immeasurable.
I've been studying the second world war all my life and its rare that I come across a film that makes me rethink what I already knew. Even better is the fact that as I learn more about the conflict as a whole,re-watching this film reveals new facets I never noticed before. I long ago taped this from the History Channel and re-watched it several times.I recently was given a copy on DVD and find that I'm again reviewing it and learning every time.
In the thirty years since the film was made there have been way too many films on the Hitler and the Second World War, but I don't think that very many are this good. Certainly I haven't seen a biography of Hitler this good. If there are any flaws I'm certain that they would be due to history and historical research moving on while the film remains a time capsule.
Highly recommended.
The film Hitler A Career manages to do both.
Made in 1977 in Germany I have yet to see a documentary on Hitler that is as good as this. Focusing on Hitler this film basically shows you who he was and why he did what he did. This is Hitler in his words and deeds with some very good narration tying it all together. Take for example the opening sequence of a speech Hitler gave when he came to power. Not only do we really get to see and hear a good portion of the speech but we are made very aware of how Hitler is speaking. The slow building nature of the oratory, the pauses, the hand gestures, its all laid out. I had read about how he gave a speech but until this film I never real saw how he did it. The film then moves on and put Hitler into the context of the time and himself. Its done in such away as to be filled with many "Ah Ha!" moments. We don't see things that don't relate to the man, we just see the things that he did, influenced him and reacted to. Most films on Hitler try to show you some larger picture, this film doesn't, its presenting the man as a man and not a cypher or a personification of evil and the understanding you get is immeasurable.
I've been studying the second world war all my life and its rare that I come across a film that makes me rethink what I already knew. Even better is the fact that as I learn more about the conflict as a whole,re-watching this film reveals new facets I never noticed before. I long ago taped this from the History Channel and re-watched it several times.I recently was given a copy on DVD and find that I'm again reviewing it and learning every time.
In the thirty years since the film was made there have been way too many films on the Hitler and the Second World War, but I don't think that very many are this good. Certainly I haven't seen a biography of Hitler this good. If there are any flaws I'm certain that they would be due to history and historical research moving on while the film remains a time capsule.
Highly recommended.