The Boys From Brazil (DVD)

...I at last come across The Boys From Brazil. I cannot remember when exactly I first saw this movie, however the movie stays in my head and is certainly memorable. This is a very deceptive film, people often assume its a boring war film. That was the answer I used to get anyway "Why do I want to watch a war film?"
The Boys From Brazil is not a war film, this movie was well before its time, dealing with issues that frequently occur ...
.../> THE STORY
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Its 1978 and Barry Kohler (Steve Guttenberg) is an investigative journalist based in a South American village. Kohler has reason to believe that a group of World War two Nazi's are holding a meeting. Kohler knows that these people are wanted for war crimes and contacts Nazi Hunter Ezra Lieberman (Laurence Olivier). Lieberman no stranger to hoax'es tells Kohler to go back to America and to stop ... more

As I continue my long journey down memory lane I at last come across The Boys From Brazil. I cannot remember when exactly I first saw this movie, however the movie stays in my head and is certainly memorable. This is a very deceptive film, people often assume its a boring war film. That was the answer I used to get anyway "Why do I want to watch a war film?"
The Boys From Brazil is not a war film, this movie was well before its time, dealing with issues that frequently occur in today's movies some twenty odd years on.

THE STORY
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Its 1978 and Barry Kohler (Steve Guttenberg) is an investigative journalist based in a South American village. Kohler has reason to believe that a group of World War two Nazi's are holding a meeting. Kohler knows that these people are wanted for war crimes and contacts Nazi Hunter Ezra Lieberman (Laurence Olivier). Lieberman no stranger to hoax'es tells Kohler to go back to America and to stop wasting his time. Kohler Idolises Lieberman and eventually finds the evidence he need to win Lieberman round. He makes a tape recording of Dr. Josef Mengele (Gregory Peck) ordering a series of assassinations around the globe. And announcing that the Nazi forces shall again rise and this time take full control of the world.

Getting this information costs Kohler his life, and Lieberman becomes haunted by the fact that he ignored Kohler's warnings. With information gathered from Kohler's investigation Lieberman decides to hunt down Mengele.

Across the world men are being assassinated in what is made to seem like random incidents. Mengele's minions soon make there way through the hit list of over 100 names. Hot on Mengele's trail Lieberman discovers that all of the deceased men have boys all exactly the same age. Further investigation shows that all the boys are identical. As Lieberman pulls together the pieces, his enquiries lead him to a horrific realisation. Every one of these boys is an exact clone of Adolf Hitler!

Principle cast:-

Laurence Olivier - Ezra Lieberman
James Mason - Eduard Seibert
Gregory Peck - Dr. Josef Mengele
Steve Guttenberg - Barry Kohler
Bruno Ganz - Professor Bruckner
Lilli Palmer - Esther Lieberman
Denholm Elliott - Sidney Beynon
Jeremy Black - Bobby
Linda Hayden - Nancy
Prunella Scales - Mrs. Harrington
Michael Gough - Mr. Harrington

My thoughts on the story
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Exactly how to define Boys From Brazil is quite difficult. I guess it's a horror/thriller, its certainly very chilling in places. The final scene, a death that all of us would dread locked this movie in my mind. When I think of this movie the final scene is the first thing I remember, and I'm sure those that see this movie will remember the same.

All the performances are excellent, Laurence Olivier is at times hysterical, playing an almost Albert Steptoe version of a Nazi Hunter. He never even begins to break from his accent unlike some of the other cast. It is rumoured that even while not filming Olivier refused to break out of his character. Lew Grade once said that Olivier's best performances were off screen during the making of this film.

Gregory Peck who I had never seen play the bad guy before, knocks out a great performance, you genuinely dislike his character and in respect of looks he was an almost identical match for the real Mengele.

This was Steve Guttenberg's first major role, its quite refreshing to see him playing a straight role, If he had stuck to straight roles I really don't think he would be stuck in the world of nasty Disney TV movies like he is now. Don't even get me started on the new Police Academy film.

This film is not everyone's cup of tea, for some it may be too close to a war story. But one thing you can certainly say about this movie is that its looks can be very deceptive.

Interesting Trivia
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At the time this movie was being made the real Josef Mengele was indeed still alive and living in South America, when he heard the movie was being made he was planning to come out of his exile thinking he would be a star.

In Linda Hayden's scene the blood you see is real; she caught her hand on the back of the bedside cabinet. When director Franklin J. Schaffner saw what had happened he shouted cut. Hayden's response was "Cut my arse, shoot the F***ing thing".

The DVD
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The DVD is available on the Carlton/Granada Classic Collection at around £4-£7 there are no special features or subtitles on this DVD.
 

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