Rent Speer and Hitler (2005)
3.0 of 5 from 2 ratings
4h 32min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Two men who become friends, inspire one another, soar to heights of self-delusion and lose themselves in a madness that shatters the norms of culture and civilization. This award-winning three-part docudrama tears open the veil of myths and half-truths obscuring a central figure of the Nazi regime. A man of profound contradictions, Albert Speer was a cultivated intellectual who allied himself with the 20th-century's most horrifying embodiment of evil. A brilliant architect, he built ostentatious monuments and controlled Germany's wartime industry. During Hitler's final months, Speer the protege would turn against his master. Rare archive and home movie footage of the two men, interviews with Albert Speer's children and a cast led by Sebastian Koch (Block Book, The Lives of Others) provide a revealing look behind the staged self-portrayals of Hitler and his architect. - Actors:
- Sebastian Koch, Tobias Moretti, Dagmar Manzel, Susanne Schäfer, André Hennicke, Axel Milberg, Peter Rühring, Michael Gwisdek, Joachim Bissmeier, Markus Boysen, Götz Burger, Hannes Hellmann, Elert Bode, August Zirner, Florian Martens, Bryan Addinall, Gottfried Breitfuss, Andreas Conrad, Edmund Dehn, Philip Harvey
- Directors:
- Heinrich Breloer
- Producers:
- Michael Hild, Thilo Kleine, Heinrich Breloer
- Writers:
- Heinrich Breloer, Horst Königstein
- Aka:
- Speer und er
- Studio:
- Second Sight Films Ltd.
- Genres:
- Documentary, Drama
- Countries:
- Germany
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Reviews (1) of Speer and Hitler
Fascinating 3 x 90 minute 2005 drama-documentary about Albert Speer, Hitler's friend + architect - Speer and Hitler review by PV
I had no great expectations of this TV series - though it's listed as a DRAMA when it is now. It is half drama and half documentary. Why someone gave it 1 star I do not know.
I found this fascinating as Speer is fascinating as one of the few top Nazis who escaped the noose at the Nuremburg trials even though his deputy was hanged! How he managed that is explored here.
Yes some dramatic scenes are cheesy, and some may object to the humanising of Hitler (the great film Downfall got criticised for the same). And the subtitles often leave a lot to be desired (they say people 'hold speeches' when they mean give them, and refer to 'Crystal Night' for example which in English is referred to as the Night of Breaking Class or more usually the German Kristallnacht).
Most fascinating perhaps is hearing from some of Speer's children - in their 60s mostly when this was filmed - and children of those who knew him, plus real archive footage of Speer who died in London in 1981 - the same London he bombed with V2 rockets who were built by slave labour he organised. The film exposes all his lies - it seems his charm and willingness to speak at the 1946 trials and say sorry even though he claims he was not directly involved saved his own neck.
And Leni Riefenstahl speaks too - aged maybe 100 (born 1902; died 2003). She who made all Hitler;s films like Triumph of the Will.
Part 1 is the rise of Speer who age 28 was chosen by Hitler to be his architect; part 2 is the war and aftermath; part 3 is the 20 years Speer served in Spandau prison with a select few other top Nazis like the deranged Hess and Doenitz and more.
The extra doc on disc 2 is interesting too.
If you are interested in World War II and the likes of Speer, you'd love this; if not you will not.
4.5 stars rounded up
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.