The Plot to Kill Hitler

The Plot to Kill Hitler is a 1990 television film based on the July 20 plot by German High Command to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944. Brad Davis stars as Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, who plants a bomb in the conference room of the Führer's headquarters in East Prussia.[1]

The Plot to Kill Hitler
Title card
Written bySteven Elkins
Directed byLawrence Schiller
StarringBrad Davis
Ian Richardson
Michael Byrne
Rupert Graves
Helmut Griem
Music byLaurence Rosenthal
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersAlfred R. Kelman
Bernard Sofronski
CinematographyFreddie Francis
EditorBernard Gribble
Running time93 minutes
Original release
ReleaseJanuary 30, 1990 (1990-01-30)

Plot summary

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Led by Army Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, several German High Command officers plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler and take control of the German government, with the ultimate intention of surrendering their country to the Allies. Stauffenberg manages to plant a bomb, hidden in his briefcase, in Hitler's battlefield headquarters. By sheer luck, Heinz Brandt unwittingly moves the briefcase slightly, and Hitler survives the subsequent blast. In the final hours of July 20, 1944, Stauffenberg, Lieutenant Werner von Haeften, General Friedrich Olbricht, Ludwig Beck, and Colonel Albrecht Mertz von Quirnheim are arrested and tried. Beck commits suicide, and the rest are taken to be executed. Stauffenberg declares "Long live the sacred Germany!" before being killed, and the others are also killed beside him within seconds. The film ends when Hitler announces his survival with Nina and her son Berthold hearing of the news.

Cast

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Production

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The movie was filmed in the United States and Zagreb, Yugoslavia.[2]

Reception

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The Courier-News said the movie "had authentic-looking period costumes and American and British actors painfully attempting to deliver German accents". They also complained that the "movie is bogged down with lengthy strategy meetings and the lack of chemistry between Davis and Madolyn Smith adds sluggish moments".[2]

References

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  1. ^ Burlingame, Jon (January 30, 1990). "The Plot To Kill Hitler on CBS". Hartford Courant. United Feature Syndicate. p. A10.
  2. ^ a b Zuckerman, Faye (January 30, 1990). "Few Solid Moments in The Plot To Kill Hitler". The Courier-News. p. C3.
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