Hitler – A Career (1977/Documentary/First Run Features)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Documentary: B+
Though
the title may seem offensive off hand, the true intent of the Joachim
Fest/Christian Herrendoefer documentary Hitler
– A Career (1977) is to show how after several tries at success and years
of feeling rejected and outcast, Adolf Hitler took what was at first a
legitimate political road to power only to consolidate it, create calculated
frenzy and try to literally take over the world no matter who he killed.
The 2.5
hour chronological trek uses archive footage not seen often and among the
endless parade of such programming is an enduring standout in its painstaking
portrait of everything that happened that it makes many anti-Hitler works since
seem incomplete. Fortunately, the
footage is also accompanied by outstanding narration that constantly shows
Hitler as the coward and cold calculator he was and digs up rare archival
stills of his early days in the shadows before he pout the world under
one. Between political correctness and
certain Right Wing forces afraid of The Nazi Analog affecting them, it is
refreshingly honest and highly accurate in its grossly under seen
deconstruction of both Hitler and how he obtain power through the politics of
fear.
An
anti-Fascist classic, it has been missing from public access far to long. First Run could not issue this one fast
enough and it is easily one of the top classic documentary DVD releases of the
last few years. It will also hopefully
create new interest for the amazing recent (2004) film version of writer Fest’s
book Downfall, where Bruno Ganz
played Hitler in his last days to chilling effect.
The 1.33
X 1 image is a mix of all kinds of color and monochrome footage, but despite a
slightly older transfer, looks pretty good for its age. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono has clear British
narration by Stephen Murray and the original German is more than in tact. The combination is more than compelling
enough for the length of the film. Extras
are few, but include a few stills and a series of related DVD releases from
First Run all covering the subject, most of which are also reviewed on this
site.
- Nicholas Sheffo
