Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56568 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-10
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Synopsis
The controversial TV drama that paints Hitler as somewhat of an obsessive towards his young niece Geli, and suggests his behaviour may have been a symptom or precursor to his drive to create a master race. Portrayed by Ken Stott, this often jovial drama is a tale of determined secret attraction that is given a huge twist considering who the protagonist is.

Customer Reviews

A MUST!
This is by far and away the best interpretation of Adolf Hitler I have ever seen. (and I've seen a few). The 2004 ITV drama is based on Hitler and his half niece from the years 1929 - 1945. Geli, played brilliantly by Elaine Cassidy is the young, sweet, and clever half-niece to the infamous dictator who stayed with him in Munich from 1929 till her sudden mysterious death in 1931. The story is based on actual events with only minor miscalculations. One being that Hans (One of Geli's lovers) played the violin, not the piano. However this does not matter greatly as the performance given by the actors, and the story itself, are fantastic. Ken Stott who plays Adolf watched through hours of archive footage and recordings of the Dictator in order to get into the role, and it really pay's off well. His gestures, how he composes himself, even his looks are a near spot on match for the original. The musical score is a simple but highly effective Orchestia that works brilliantly into the program. A nice change to this drama is that most actors used to play part such as Himler (Peter Wight) and Goebbels (Danny Web) make great doubles also, as do others with the only exception of Maurice played by Jake Wood. I watch this dvd frequently as it is Stott's Hitler that makes you laugh and cry along with him throughout. It is known that hitler was a very charming and intellectual powerful man to which this program shows. Recommended to all who have an interest in Hitler coming to power, and how incidents in his life could have effected his view on things later on.

Hitler and women, but not quite accurate
This is a superb drama based on the relationship between Adolph Hitler (Stott) and his half niece Geli Raubal (Cassidy) between 1929 and her suicide in 1933.

Having read Ronald Hayman’s excellent book “Hitler+ Geli” this film brings out the essence of the relationship between Hitler and his niece but there are several sacrifices made for dramatic effect.

First Cassidy looks nothing like the real Geli who had a very full face and figure, and the only descriptions of her were written decades later in memoirs and interviews and describe her variously as “Her big eyes were a poem”, “an enchantress” and quite differently by the highly cultured and educated Hanfstaengl as “having the coarse bloom of a servant girl” a view Frau Hanfstaengl didn’t agree with.

Hitler’s treatment of Geli was not tyrannical as in the film but manipulative. When Geli told Hitler she wanted to marry Maurice he did not beat him, but allowed an engagement for the period until Geli came of age, before which Maurice negotiated a withdrawal, and Hitler protected Maurice for the rest of his life.

However Geli’s growing fear and disgust of Hitler is accurate and arose because of his perverted sado masochistic relationship with her, and was almost certainly the reason for her suicide as it was for a previous lover Renate Muller.

Fine acting from Stott and Cassidy combine with excellent direction for a gripping film.