The Bunker

Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hitler was surpassing, although I cannot compare it to someone like Alec Guinness, because I haven't seen that film yet, but for an HBO film and the choice of Hopkins, it's like some of the former reviews puts it - he grows on you, and almost transforms himself into Hitler before your eyes.

The supporting cast was okay, as far as supporting casts go. Susan Blakely played Eva Braun, although for some reason, I never expected Braun to be as attractive as Blakely portrayed her to be.

The subject matter, of course, is true to form. How the nation of Germany fell under the spell of what was to become a weak man, suffering from medical symptoms and emotional hysteria and paranoia escapes me, but don't all dictators somehow put their spell on the populace? In his case, he had Goebbels help, another character which was portrayed with chilling accuracy, all the while the propagandist trying to "pump up the Third Reich," but suggesting at times that FDR was dead, and that the cause will live on, and that the Jews were the cause of the problems they had, and wishing the world would take Germany's cue in this struggle.

A very interesting film, but I just wished it had gone a little more smoother. The pauses (momentary blackouts) were a little unnerving, especially as you get into the movie, and the 3 minute intermission was a bit much. Then there was the claim that the film was 87 minutes long. I watched it with my wife, and we figured it at two hours long.

If you're a Hopkins fan, this is a must-see. If you're a history buff, there might be other movies out there a little more appealing.


Hopkins is a Weaker Hitler   July 18, 2003
Roger Kennedy
This version of Hitler's last days begs comparison with the earlier production with Alec Guinness. Hopkin's Hitler comes across as weaker, less strong, but it is a careful study nonetheless. The production is top quality, although the supporting cast is a bit weak. The actor who plays Goebbels over does it a bit, while Speer is given a more sympathetic portrait than he deserves. The perspective of this movie is larger, as it covers the entire three month period of Hitler's life in the Bunker. At times a little slow, the movie is less dramatic than its earlier counter part with Guinness, but it is a worthwhile version anyway. Hopkin's Hilter starts to grow on you after a while, while his performance lacks the force of Guinness it is still a careful study of a dictator/madman in steady decline. Buy both versions of Hitler with Guinness and Hopkins and you will have a fascinating study of one of the world's most infamous leaders of the 20th Century.


Great acting by Anthony Hopkins   July 16, 2003
Anthony Hopkins is absolutely riveting as Adolf Hitler. He captures all of Hitler's mannerisms, quirks, and facial expressions. My only complaint is that he doesn't use a German accent. The production is poor, and there are some flaws in the story. For example, Albert Speer is made out to be almost a hero in the film. It has been proven that there was actually no assassination attempt made by Speer. The guy who plays Joseph Goebbels is horrible, one of the worst acting jobs I've seen. But overall the acting is great, and the performance by Hopkins makes this movie worth owning.


Hitler's Last Days Revealed   April 13, 2003
Kevin R. Austra (Delaware Valley, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Based on James O'Connell's best selling book, THE BUNKER is one of most accurate depictions of the last months of Adolf Hitler. Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Nixon, A Bridge Too Far) was awarded an Emmy for his portrayal of Hitler. Considerable research was put into the book and that same detail transfers to the screen. The sets of the Chancellery, Bunker emergency exit and the Bunker itself are extremly detailed and could double for historic photos of the actual sites. The late Richard Jordan (The Secret of My Success, Gettysburg) contributes a strong performance as Hitler's Armaments Minister Albert Speer -- one of the few surviving senior vistors to the Fuehrer Bunker during the last days of Nazi Berlin.

Far superior to [other]productions ..., this is a definitive docu-drama of the last days of the Third Reich. The historical accuracy is striking. Costuming is accurate in almost every detail.

THE BUNKER was produced as a television movie in 1980 as a joint US - French production. This film is long overdue for release in DVD.


Mostly Accurate   February 8, 2003
Amateur Philosopher (Chicago, IL)
Despite its production and acting, I must agree with James O'Connell (who wrote the book that led to this movie) that this is the most accurate description of what happened in Hitler's bunker that anyone will know, especially since the witnesses are mostly dead.

"The Bunker" depicts Hitler precisely as he was in his last days - a drugged, drooling hypocondriac divorced from reality and obsessed with destroying his own people. While Guiness' portrayal of Hitler in "The Last Ten Days" may be better acting, Hitler was really a wreck during the last days, and any neo-Nazi today would do well to watch this to discover exactly how their "Fuehrer" ended his days.

Of course, Albert Speer's assassination attempt has now been debunked by recently-released aerial photography of the bunker, and exactly when the "chimney" was constructed over the air duct goes against Speer's claims. But O'Donnell died more than a decade ago, and this movie was made in the early 1980s. Neither party could have known this when the film was made.