Thursday, May 19, 2011

Son of Hitler (1978)


Its nice to see Peter Cushing do comedy but couldn't he have picked a better movie? Cushing (who is quite good if badly directed) plays an ex-Nazi general looking for the son of Adolf Hitler, who was spirited away after the war. Cushing wants to use him as part of the NEIN party, a fascist organization attempting to get power. When Willi appears in the person of Bud Cort things don't go as anyone planned. This movie, which appears never to really have played anywhere, is one of a kind. I don't know how else to describe it. Offensive? Unfunny? Inept? How many words do I have? I would wonder how this film ever got made, but I suspect from the things that do work, that the script probably read well and seemed like a good idea (at least worth a paycheck for Cort,Cushing and Anton Diffring). The trouble occurred when it was filmed and what seemed like comedy and satire turned dark and decidedly not humorous, at least as its presented here. Then again I'm probably reaching for straws since this movie seems determined not to be anything else other than unnerving, why else would be have constant shots of Hitler cut into the action. It also seems to want to make a point of some kind, but I haven't figure out what that is. Should you see this? For bad movie lovers and those who must see movies unlike anything else its a must. This movie will scar you and have you screaming in pain like the best of them (figuratively speaking). There is nothing quite like this film, sort of like there is nothing like chewing on aluminum foil or putting lemon juice in a paper cut. Anyone not looking for bad or unique cinematic experiences should stay away. 3 out of 10 for bad movie lovers, otherwise this is impossible to rate. As far as I know this film has never been officially released. I picked up my copy from Shocking DVDS. An aside. Hitler probably really did have a son, the result of his time in France during the First World War. He grew up working for the railroad and having almost no contact with his father.

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