Customer Reviews

The Plot to Kill Hitler [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I very much enjoyed this film because the producers did their best to stay "true to history," rather than try to "hollywood," it. The saga of colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a historical tale of bravery, personal risk and raises many interesting discussions on World War II. As an adjunct professor I have often shown this movie to my college students to get them to consider issues such as treason, following conscience vs following orders, and "what if" scenarios. After a read of William Shirer's Classic book entitled "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," this movie is even more enjoyable. Of course, I wish the film makers went to two solid hours and provided even more facts, tidbits and information on the extensive German resistance movement. I highly recommend this movie as an excellent discussion vehicle and as an exciting story. It never ceases to amaze me how a bomb that explodes within six feet of Hitler failed to kill him and how Stauffenberg risked not only his life and career, but literally the lives of his whole family, associates and friends. This film presents another classic example of a "near miss," that most people wish had not. The acting is adequate and Madolyn Smith and Brad Davis do better here than when they did the Robert Kennedy film together (in my opinion). This is a great film to rent for a rainy weekend day that will certainly raise excellent family discussions. It is to be noted that had the revolt succeeded, the war would have ended nine months earlier and countless combat and concentration camp deaths might have been avoided. Every Year on July 20th, I make a point to mention this story to friends and usually try to watch the film again. It is important to reflect on events like this to remember those who have died in fighting tyranny.

A true story about a group of disgruntled German officers and their plan to eliminate Hitler, and bring Germany back into an age of stability. Historians have known all along that throughout the existence of the Third Reich, that many soldiers within the Wermacht where regretting the rule of Hitler and his SS henchmen. The film follows an Army colonel through his career in Africa, to his orginazation of the group that was to kill Hitler. A great film for anyone who is interested in the history of what actually went on inside the government of the Third Reich, and the people fighting for their country.

This is a great WWII film about the plot by high-ranking German officers to kill Adolf Hitler. This film brings history alive. Well filmed and directed. Unforunately, there are a few minor historical innaccuracies, but otherwise, a very good picture.

One would be hard pressed to find a tale more inspiring and devastating than the plot to kill Adolf Hitler on July 20th, 1944.

Led by Colonel Claus Josef Von Stauffenberg, a high ranking German officer, devout Catholic, scholar and badly wounded veteran of WW1,
the element of chance in the ultimate failure of his heroic historical gesture is chilling. Played by a youthful Brad Davis, the gentle and firm nature of the man is conveyed well.

Slowly becoming aware of the atrocities that the Third Reich were committing in Poland and the Eastern Front in general, Stauffenberg
originally planned to a coup--develop a shadow government and overthrow the SS, thereby rendering Hitler powerless. Reality set in after awhile, however, and Stauffenberg was granted the privilege and curse of seeing Adolf Hitler then as we see him now: a mass murdering psychopath.

Returning from Tunesia after surviving a combat related attack which rendered him blind in one eye, he told his brother Berthold (one of his only loyal co-conspirator when all hell broke loose) that he was willing to sacrifice his life to kill Hitler.

His decision would have a horribly adverse effect in the sense of taking countless lives and, most tragically, the torture and garrotting of Berthold, but had it succeeded Stauffenberg would be up there in the history books, and rightly so, with Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and a host of other great men. The film skips over his original indecision: whether to shoot Hitler (bad idea, since there were crackshot marksmen around him at all times), and a suicide bombing at an art museum in which only Stauffenberg and Hitler would perish (Hitler never showed up, changing his schedule once again). Stauffenberg knew his time was limited and that at some point Hitler would be in hiding somewhere and the concentration camps would be running as always even as his evil empire went into ruin.

The day came. Depicted perfectly and with no historical inaccuracies in this film, Stauffenberg walked into Hitler "Wolf's Lair" and set a bomb
in a briefcase beside him. It was a heavy oak table.

A German officer in the room who was advising Hitler, Colonel Brendt, got up and moved the briefcase because it was in his way.

A matter of hours later, Adolf Hitler was on the radio in Germany shouting that "Divine Providence had saved him for his Mission". The irony is crushing.

The scene in which Stauffenberg is executed is done dramatically here: he did not merely snivel and recite passages from the Bible hopelessly, but gave a proud should before the last shot was fired: "Long Live Our Sacred Germany!"

I remember seeing this years ago and wondering why I hadn't heard of Stauffenberg and why he has been reduced to such a footnote in history. There were other attempts, yes, but none as daring and conscience inspired as this one. Other were concerned about Hitler running Germany's economny into the ground, etc: as reflected in his letters and conversations with other officers, his chief concern was killing Hitler because, as he wrote so aptly, the Fuhrer was "evil incarnate".

I guess Tom Cruise is supposed to play Stauffenberg in an upcoming film about the plot. I hope he doesn't. Here we have a man who gave his life for mercy and an actor who proselytizes against the mentally ill and psychotropic medications. THIS is a sparse, sober assessment of one man doing what he knew was his duty, at all costs.

I ordered this DVD from Germany after seeing the Cruise version in the movie theatre. I rarely go to see films on the big screen, but having been filmed partly in Berlin, which I am very familiar with, I wanted to see what United Artists, Singer, Cruise et al. did with the available settings. I was not disappointed in that respect. However, Brad Davis and the cast on this film do an excellent job--very true to the history, this begins with an encounter between Stauffenberg and Rommel--whereas the General in the UA version is "mythical." As we all know, Rommel was killed for suspected involvement long after he oversaw the Atlantic Wall defenses, was severely injured, and went back to Germany to recuperate and celebrate his wife's birthday. Manfred Rommel appears in documentaries telling this story--and it is a sad one, as Rommel has been "recuperated" as a German hero as has Stauffenberg.

I strongly recommend this version as opposed to the 1950s German versions, which are a bit stiff. The German DVD from Amazon.de included not only the English soundtrack and English subtitles, but as is not unusualy, about 14 other languages in sound and subtitle, so is very useful for language students as well. These are much better buys for the dollar (or euro), as are often UK DVDs. If Davis' wearing of white rather than the Reserve Army rose color piping is incorrect or can be overlooked, it is a minor detail.

Thus, as with the Associate Professor, go with this version if you are interested in the history of the resistance itself. There were over 40 attempts on Adolf's life--if only others were so well documented the average international view of Germans and Germany would be more accurate.

As a person who appreciates and studies history, I have always been enthralled by the plot to kill Hitler. I've seen most documentaries of the July 20th Plot and was excited that David L. Wolper, a historian himself, produced this movie. I found it far better than the 2008 Valkyrie movie with Tom Cruise. I like Cruise, but found him ill-fitted for the role of Stauffenberg. I think Thomas Kretschmann would've done a better job (he played Major Ramer). This movie centered around how they devised the plan and was detailed in politically and historically correct views. The added necessary drama to keep the flow moving and I wish they would've shown how the plot unfolded, like what steps they used to take control of Berlin after the bomb went off in the Wolf's Lair. Still, it was far better than the recent film. You won't be disappointed. Brad Davis did an excellent job.

I just so the Tom Cruise movie on this Christmas day of 2008. I in all honesty this made for TV movie was a bit better done. Brad Davis seemed to bring more depth to Von Staufenberg than did Cruise. So I would give this 3 stars and Valkyrie 2 and a half.

This is one great movie.What i would like to know is why is it still not available on dvd? Can the film distributors please take note and do the needful soonest?

I first saw this film when it ran on television and I ordered the tape as I wanted to watch it again. It is a well done recreation of historical events. Of course, there are some things which will always be debated. For instance, there are different accounts given as to how involved Rommel was. Nevertheless, the production values cannot be dismissed and the acting of Brad Davis, as always, is top notch. There is an increasing sense of tension as the conspirators meet to discuss their plan. We all know the story, but this movie makes these people real to us. It makes us understand their motivations and conflicts. They had sworn allegiance to the army and their country, yet they could no longer stand by and accept the leadership's actions. They were torn. It gives us insight into the division between the old aristocracy and those currently in power. The film manages to take an event that many, sadly, in North America know little about and explain it. I would love to see this film shown in high school history classes.

I thought this version of the polt to kill Hitler was excellent. Although most of the actors are unknown to me, I did recongize the woman who played Staffenburg's wife, Nina. She played in the movie Funny Farm, with Chevy Chase.