The Hitler Miniseries.

[orange]

I think it is further indication that people can only be entertained to get information, otherwise they couldn't be bothered

But, in any event, i think it will be good to show what things led Hitler to what he did. Madmen aren't born, they are created by society.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by orange
I think it is further indication that people can only be entertained to get information, otherwise they couldn't be bothered

Do I hear a call for "Hitler: the Musical"?

[orange]

Springtime For Hitler

[MRT144]

Hitler was british...and londoner no less

[Cruddy]

Those intrigued with a "close in" view of Hitler might like to read Albert Speer's autobiog, and how Hitler changed from 1929 up to his death.

OK, OK, he was a war criminal too... but at least he pleaded guilty at the trial.

I'm not saying I'd like to eat a meal with either of them... but it's better to be informed, I think.

[Agathon]

Sadly no song suggestions for Hitler: the Musical.

I suggest some suitably modified version of "I'm an *******".

[GePap]

Mel Brooks always got a lot of milage out of Hitler, comedically.

I think simply making a movie about hitler is very difficult. Obviosuly he was a very charesmatic individual, and that is always difficult to bring on screen, but at the same time he was sort of, well, lazy sometimes (he would usually get up at noon, watch a couple of movies, then do some work) A lot of his followers are also difficult people to bring on stage, like Himmler, who didn't like to shoot guns at the same time he ran the SS.

Overall, he is the sort of man which probably is extremely difficult to bring on screen, as are most "great" men, since much fo their power simply does not transmit., and given that, people resort to stereotype, making thwem devils or angels, depending on the character.

Oh, and I think the mini series deals only with the rise of Hitler, I don't think it extends to far into his rule (Hindenburg seems to be a big character in the series).

One of the things from the Nazi's that always astounds me most was one of Himmlers speeches to a gathering of SS men, were he praised them for being able to remain "decent" human beings in the face of the things they were doing in the East.

[Lincoln]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov




I thought he was superb. Human, frighteningly human.

I, for one, get disgusted with the "Hitler was a monster!" attitude that people use to try and seperate themselves from him. It is an extreme disservice to history and ourselves to try and make Hitler and his cronies less-than-human, as it denies the possibility for any person to partake in such atrocities. What's most horrifying about the Nazi murderers was that they were human, like us, and yet still participated in these crimes. That's the lesson we should be learning--it can happen anywhere, and by anybody. Trying to deny that will lead to perpetuating it.

This may be the first time in history that I have ever agreed completely with Boris Godunov. I can add nothing to what he already said. Hitler was one of us, a fellow human being. We need to deal with it now.

[Lincoln]

Originally posted by Cruddy
Those intrigued with a "close in" view of Hitler might like to read Albert Speer's autobiog, and how Hitler changed from 1929 up to his death.

OK, OK, he was a war criminal too... but at least he pleaded guilty at the trial.

I'm not saying I'd like to eat a meal with either of them... but it's better to be informed, I think.

I've read a few books by Speer. He does provice valuable insight but I probably would sit down to dinner with him. At least he knows what repentance is. Yea, he got caught so he repented when he lost, but that is an aspect of human nature that is at least a step above an unrepentant evil doer.

[Shi Huangdi]

When/ what station will this miniseries be on?

[Giant_Squid]

I don't know, I think I have more respect for someone who stands by their beliefs through good or bad, even evil beliefs, than someone who has a superficial change of heart when it's convenient for them. You just know if the Nazis had risen again he probably would have had another "change of heart" and decided they were okay after all just in time to benefit from working with them again. That kind of attitude is probably what led him to work with the Nazis in the first place, after all.

[Lincoln]

Well people often need to be shocked into reality. When your cities are being burned and you find yourself in jail it can be an eyeopener! I think that Speer was sincere after he spent a few years in the slammer and was able to think about what he was involved in.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
When/ what station will this miniseries be on?

CBS, starting tommorrow at 9pm.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Giant_Squid
I don't know, I think I have more respect for someone who stands by their beliefs through good or bad, even evil beliefs, than someone who has a superficial change of heart when it's convenient for them. You just know if the Nazis had risen again he probably would have had another "change of heart" and decided they were okay after all just in time to benefit from working with them again. That kind of attitude is probably what led him to work with the Nazis in the first place, after all.

I have to disagree. Have you read any of Speer's writings? He really is sincerely repentant, IMO. I don't think he could have fooled Simon Weisenthal, after all.

Speer was in disagreement with Hitler as the war was ending, and openly defied him at the end, handing over his in-tact munitions plants to the Allies instead of destroying them.

Speer's defense of his use of slave labor is most likely hindsight exaggeration. I doubt he really cared about saving Jews from extermination as much as he did maximizing efficiency. Still, he has a point in that those slaves weren't exterminated in the camps.

[Cruddy]

Speer served 20 - hardly a few. In solitary in Spandau. Not a breeze.

At the trial, the Soviets REALLy wanted him dead. All those guns and tanks aimed at them.

His defence was quite simply, he had cared more for the machines and the buildings than he did for people.

I believe (long time since I read it) he was put on Death Row but survived on appeal - and then had 20 years to consider his choices.

Being a close confidant of Hitler probably brought on a few nightmares as well. It certainly would for most human beings.