Hidden Fuhrer: Debating The Enigma Of Hitler’s Sexuality
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Documentary: B
Was Adolf Hitler gay?
Why after 70 years is this a question that makes people laugh? There are so many reasons, which
unfortunately include anti-Semitism, homophobia and just the fact that what his
agenda was based on was the total opposite.
However, no one considers how true this might actually be and the usual
documentaries of the time and most of them to date do not even acknowledge the
existence of homosexuals except for the rare times they discuss how they were
experimented on and exterminated by The Nazis.
Hidden Fuhrer: Debating The Enigma Of Hitler’s Sexuality (2004)
cannot help but be amusing because it is impossible to approach the subject
without even a chuckle.
That the idea feels like a bad TV tabloid show or
straight-to-video exploitation release on the shelf with items like U.F.O.s and
other craziness would seem likely, but this documentary is different and much
better. Directors Fenton Bailey and
Randy Barbato strike again! The team
that has given us gems like The Eyes Of Tammy Faye and Inside Deep
Throat (both reviewed elsewhere on this site) is back with an examination
of the Lothar Machtan book The Hidden Hitler, which has been the
subject of more debate than you would think.
Since the more serious side of the subject is too touchy, the mainstream
media (who would pick up on this instantly) has avoided it. However, this is a fascinating look at the
homoeroticism of the Nazi’s brand of Fascism that still lingers strongly with
Neo-Nazi skinhead groups of today and in the art of The Third Reich (cold or
not, its body-obsessed images are too easily dismissed as non-erotic for all
kinds of fascinating reasons) as people throughout the film debate the book.
Though the film is primarily about Hitler’s past, much of
which historically has gayness in it, the project evolves into something
deeper, funnier and more multi-faceted than expected. Hitler did have many gay connections and that certainly included
those he had massacred in the “night of the long knives” and the only flaw in
this production is not discussing that aspect enough as further evidence. With what is here, there is more than enough
to back up the idea that he was at least very bi-sexual and actively so during
his early political years and then some, even if you discount some of the
statements as hearsay (and do not bust a gut laughing about some of them) if
you want to give pro-Hitler (read pro-homophobic and anti-gay) critics the
benefit of the doubt.
Of course, Hitler had the chance to deny all kinds of
things, destroy all kinds of evidence (including people and witnesses) who
could have confirmed this. The
patriarchal establishment worldwide hates to admit any gay or bi-sexual man
could have gone that far and had that much power, even if it was one as mad as
Hitler. Just think about the recent
controversy over Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004) and not because it was
a problematic film, but that the original theatrical cut had all kinds of
homosexuality (however limited in it) that got some Greek lawyers with nothing
else to do threaten to sue Stone and Warner Bros.!
The problem is that anything you could say was true of
Hitler (like self-hate; he did not live up to his own Aryan superman,
super-beauty standards) could be the kind of stereotypes you could use against
any minority, including homosexuals.
With pre-Nazi Germany offering what is still a peak of pro-Gay, gay
freedom still ever known to man, there is no way whatsoever he could have
avoided it. Machtan is here in person
arguing with all kinds of critics and at least narrowing down criticisms that
try to debunk his ideas. When all is
said and done, Hitler’s sexuality is never totally confirmed as heterosexual
and since he was working so closely with so many who betrayed their own in that
community, it never will. Hidden
Fuhrer is another winner from the Bailey/Barbato team who are on a role
that not even Michael Moore can compete with.
The 1.33 X 1 image is of mixed quality as any documentary
that offers nearly 100 years of footage would be, while with Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo does not have any real surrounds, but is solid and offers a variety of
audio sources going back to old German music recordings and sound newsreel
footage. The recordings of those
reading English translations is sometimes forward and always funny, almost
making one wonder if this was intentional or not. Either way, the combination is just fine for a production like
this and the editing is also good, though sometimes a hoot. Extras included 44:40 of extra interview
analyses worth your time and some trailers for other Strand DVD releases.
- Nicholas Sheffo
