The Hitler Filmography: Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000 [Hardcover]

Charles P. Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078641295X | ISBN-13: 978-0786412952 | Publication Date: September 17, 2002 | Edition: annotated edition

Adolf Hitler was arguably the most evil figure of the twentieth century. From the time his Nazi regime launched World War II to the present time, he has frequently been depicted on film. He was largely ridiculed at first, since laughter was a powerful weapon and morale booster for nations at war. Later representations were more somber and realistic, yet Hitler’s image never escaped the undertone of scorn. This book concentrates exclusively on portrayals of Hitler in feature films and television miniseries. Criteria for inclusion requires that Hitler be represented on screen by an actor. The filmography covers films with a factual historical storyline, fictional stories about Hitler (e.g., They Saved Hitler’s Brain), alternate histories (e.g., Fatherland), parodies (e.g., Undercovers Hero), and films where actors playing Hitler have a cameo (e.g., Blazing Saddles). Each entry in the filmography provides production credits, an annotated cast list, an analysis and synopsis of the film, an evaluation of the actor playing Hitler in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of his portrayal, and a representative selection of quotations from the film.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An excellent reference” --Classic Images

“Detailed information on 100 films” --Booklist/RBB

“Impressive...valuable...a treasure chest of cinema information” --Film & History

About the Author

The late Charles P. Mitchell, author of The Great Composers Portrayed on Film, 1913 through 2002 (2004), The Devil on Screen (2002) and coauthor of Screen Sirens Scream! (2000), was a professional librarian and served two terms as chairman of the Southern Maine Library District. He wrote major film articles for Classic Images, Filmfax, Big Reel and Videoscope. He lived in Millinocket, Maine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 303 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company; annotated edition edition (September 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078641295X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412952
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,143,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC FILM BOOK ON HITLER AS CHIEF CHARACTER, June 7, 2003

By 

Ronald Schwartz (New York, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hitler Filmography: Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000 (Hardcover)

I have always been a fan of Charles Mitchell's work. His SCREEN SIRENS and DEVIL ON SCREEN (both McFarland publications) are now trumped by this truly original latest work, THE HITLER FILMOGRAPHY: Worldwide Feature Film & TV Miniseries Portrayals, 1940-2000, again, beautifully published by McFarland with a terrific hard cover and sprinkled with wonderful stills.
Mitchell provides excellent annotations for casts, plot outlines, all major credits and is particular good at providing "behind the scenes" information for hundreds of films with Hitler as a major (or minor) character. He deals with all American and international films with Hitler as a character...although I could not find THE DEVIL STRIKES AT MIDNIGHT (my favorite Hitler Siodmak film in German), his renditions of THE GREAT DICTATOR (Chaplin) and TO BE OR NOT TO BE (Lubitsch) are wonderfully famous and indispensible inclusions in this vast 303 page book. All film fans will love this beautifully produced book which also belongs in all libraries throughout the world. Although it is an A to Z format, you can pick up the book and start anywhere. Mitchell also provides an excellent index and bibliography. Although my life is "film noir"---and there are some excellent Hiltler noir films, I recommend this book highly for its depth of analysis and creative display by the author.
Another Mitchell triumph!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating study, October 12, 2002

By 

"chazdexward" (Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hitler Filmography: Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000 (Hardcover)

This is a fascinating book covering all films in which Hitler is depicted, over 100 worldwide. Most are comedies, including Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR, Woody Allen's ZELIG, Jerry Lewis' WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT and Danny Kaye's ON THE DOUBLE (and MEL Brooks is not forgotten either!). then there are straight wartime dramas, THE HITLER GANG, THE DESERT FOX etc. I enjoy the fantasy films, such as FATHERLAND, an alternate history story and THE EMPTY MIRROR in which Hitler must atone for his crimes in Hell. Then there are foreign films, such as the Soviet propaganda films sch as FALL OF BERLIN, and the Czech science fiction film in which Nazis attempt time travel to win the war. Other films are more serious, such as the mini-series WAR AND REMENBRACE with poignant scenes of the holocaust. Mitchell writes and analyzes well, and manages to strike the right tone about why Hitler is reprsented so frequently in films. Mitchell writes, by focusing on Hitler, film makers are attempting to ensure that such a monster could never again gain power, In any case, Mitchell's book is fascinating and highly recommended. I never knew so many actors played Hitler, including Alec Guiness, Robert Vaughn, Moe Howard, Richard Basehart, Anthony Hopkins, Luther Adler and the all time record holder, Robert Bobby Watson. Many great illustrations. A great book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for WWII fans, August 14, 2004

By 

History buff (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hitler Filmography: Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000 (Hardcover)

I am a World War II buff, and this is one of the most enjoyable movie books I have ever read. Fascinating and knowledgeable, every aspect of the evil of Adolf Hitler is viewed through the many film representations of him. The movies are covered in depth, with many small and interesting details. There are rare films from all over the world, everything a war movie fan could desire. I highly recommend this unusual book.