I will say that the guy who played himmler looked dead on. Funny story about the first time I saw downfall. Myself and several of my reenacting friends went up to chicago to see it and afterwards i for some unknown reason got sick on the drive home and was throwing up out the window of my friends car. Everyone decided that I had overdosed on national socialism from the movie. I still claim bad popcorn.
I'll just throw in that the Special Edition 2-DVD set is well worth having. For once, the 'extras' are really interesting ; plenty of stuff about the actual making of the movie but also some very thoughtful interviews with the cast discussing their thoughts and feelings about portraying some very 'politically incorrect' figures. It's worth the money just for the interview with the actor who plays Fegelein - very amusing !
Yes, I have the 2-DVD version. Excellent, full of goodies. And, Panzergrenadiere, that Himmler was spot on. Really, one of those films about which you can say you have nothing to point against. Well, except from that Gen. Chuikov who didn't look like Chuikov, or the Goering that didn't look like Goering, but those were only two fleeting appearances.
But didnt Baseheart get wet in the escape scene, the one where the Submarine gets under the bunker and the flying fish thingy rescues him? Or am I thinking of another Baseheart? No, saw the movie last night on repeat, thought the overall picture of life in the bunker was good, and even if not the best Hitler portrayal of all, it was certainly worth watching for the other folk involved.
I might rent this movie but I hesitate, I'm fond of WWII history but watching characters like Hitler or Goebels is likely to make me sick. Therefore I'm wondering if there are battle scenes, or is it only nazi leaders chatting in their bunker ?
Mainly the latter, but I surely do advise you to see the film, Choc, it's a gripping narrative, very very well performed.
I agree totally with Za - it's not an 'action movie', although one is constantly aware of the Battle for Berlin raging around the characters. But, despite depicting some historically repulsive characters, the film is IMPO essential WWII movie viewing.....
Last night I picked an old VHS tape of "Hitler, The Las´t Ten Days" (1973) with Obi-Wan Keno... ooops! Alec Guinness. It doesn't measure up a tiny bit. Even Guinness' voice sounds a strange falsetto.
I have never seen The Last Ten Days, granted it will never match up to Downfall but I always wanted to see the late Alec Guinness doing his Hitler bit. May be one day I will get to watch it I hope.
Maybe not to others but to me Alec Guinness had more than a passing resemblance to Herr Schincklgruber. His voice wan't quite right, but then most of what I have seen and heard of Adolf Hitler, it was while he was doing his act for an audience, which may be entirely different from his normal tone and manner of speaking.
I agree with all the positive words on Downfall. It is an excellent film, very gritty, very accurate. Does anyone else remember that strange dream-like hitler movie from a few years back titled something to the effect of "Looking Into the Broken Mirror" ?
Hi Urgh, sorry I did not see this earlier to reply. Not sure where your getting THIS version of "Hitler" w/ Richard Basehart from? but it really sounds like an interesting sci-fi movie. ;-)) Richard Basehart if more famous for his role of the Admiral of the Seaview: Admiral Nelson, on the TV show: Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea. Now in the movie Hitler, you see "Hitler" get involved with his Niece Geli. You also see a possibility of what probably happened to her when she rejected his advances. It's been quite sometime since I last saw this movie and don't remember much but do remember that Basehart, had his Hitler character - spot on in his performance.
Well the other night I was in my local movie store renting a movie and I saw Downfall sitting there on a rack for $9. I had been waiting to see this for a while so of course I bought it trusting that I would not be dissapointed. I definitely was not, this film was great. A very worth while addition to my collection. Very cool to see Hanna Reitsch and many of the others. The actor who played Gen. Weidling I thought was stunning even though he was only in a few scenes. It was also very interesting to see an in depth Hitler character as I have never seen one before in a movie. The few combat scenes were good as well.
I've rent the DVD and finaly saw the movie. You guys were right, this is quite a good movie, and an interesting one. I had some problems with the characters because I don't know all the high ranked nazis and officers featured in the movie, and it would have been interesting to know who they were and what they did during WWII. But it's a fascinating account of a few interesting and important things : some of the worst murderers in history are just human beings like you and me, and how people can drag other people and drown themselves into their own murderous lies and illusions, and how easy it is to dispose of hundreds of lifes when you are sat behind a desk.
Just watched the extended version with some 25 minutes added to the original. I guess this one´s for the tv to be played in two parts, also I suppose many of you DVD rent people saw it the first time around. Anyway, these did add depth to the movie I think, but not worth buying it for the second time. Anyway, just wanted to inform you guys there is a new version around.
