Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)

76% of users liked it
(1,862 ratings)

British actor Robert Carlyle stars as the 20th century's most infamous dictator in this two-part TV biopic. The film covers the life of Adolf Hitler from his childhood to his emergence as absolute ruler of Germany in 1934. Most of the ground covered should be familiar to history buffs: Hitler's… More British actor Robert Carlyle stars as the 20th century's most infamous dictator in this two-part TV biopic. The film covers the life of Adolf Hitler from his childhood to his emergence as absolute ruler of Germany in 1934. Most of the ground covered should be familiar to history buffs: Hitler's failed efforts to become a great artist, his frustration at watching his adopted country fall apart at the seams during World War I, his resolve to put Germany back on its feet by exploiting the nation's horrendous postwar economic woes and its ingrained anti-Semitism, his 1923 arrest, the publication of Hitler's virulent screed Mein Kampf, the growing popularity of National Socialism, and the fatal error made by senile German chancellor Von Hindbenburg (Peter O'Toole) to "neutralize" Hitler by giving him a relatively unimportant political post in 1933. Also covered is Hitler's abortive romance with his half-niece Geli Raubal (Jena Malone) and his longer relationship with the estimable Eva Braun (Zoe Telford). Given the difficulties faced by actor Carlyle and the screenwriters to successfully convey pure, unadulterated evil, much of what we learn about Hitler is conveyed by the observations and reactions of other characters, notably crusading but ineffectual anti-Nazi journalist Fritz Gerlich (Matthew Modine), and especially German publisher Ernst Hanfstaengl (Liev Schreiber) and his wife, Helene (Julianna Margulies). Originally a staunch supporter of Hitler, Hanfstaengl eventually comes to realize the danger the man poses to the world ("He's not human. He simply studies others to become human."); in contrast, Helene, who at the outset is vaguely opposed to National Socialism, is ultimately seduced and swept up by the movement. Not surprisingly, this film stirred up a great deal of controversy even before it aired; some Jewish leaders and prominent Holocaust survivors worried that Hitler might come off as being sympathetic (a concern that may have dictated altering the film's title, which was to have been Hitler: The Early Years); and one of the film's producers was summarily dismissed after issuing a public statement which seemed to compare Germany's blind, unthinking allegiance to Hitler to America's rallying behind George W. Bush during the Iraq crisis. Hitler: The Rise of Evil originally aired May 18 and 20, 2003, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Christian Duguay
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: May 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Oct 9, 2007
Studio: Koch Vision

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

Ginny

 <center> "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."</center> My knowledge of Hitlers life and Germanys History is not yet to that level of what I want it to be, but basing from what Ive… More
 <center> "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."</center> My knowledge of Hitlers life and Germanys History is not yet to that level of what I want it to be, but basing from what Ive already read and know, its actually a pretty good film. Its NOT perfect, but its good enough to give you goosebumps. I want to give this movie a perfect 5, but I feel that there were some scenes that I couldnt really agree upon. About the time of World War I when Hitler was a messenger, and the questionable "script" they placed to what little they actually touched on Hitlers childhood. The movie subltly, and slowly gives out some sort of misinformation, you might call it an opinionated character bashing, which I think is so not necessary for this type of film and story. Hitler was a madman, but I think there is no need for the "evil exaggeration", but as far as the casting, acting and directing went, it was perfect, its just really the slight alterations on the story that made me slash off half a star in my rating. This is a 2 part film, and its 3 hours long, but nonetheless interesting. When the movie was about to end, I thought that I was gonna be left hangging, but they did make up for it before the credits rolled in. (I have a fascination for this slice of history, mainly because I want to understand and know the truth about what happened during that time. I feel robbed of this story/knowledge because exclusive all girls catholic schools dont put this on the curriculumn.) Best viewed back to back with Hitler - eine Karriere, which is a very interesting and intriguing old documentary that actually shows the real people as themselves. *Ill just redo this review some other time. Too tired to make a proper one../font>
Barry L

Actually really well done.....

Cast

            Robert Carlyle as Adolf Hitler

            Stockard Channing as Klara Hitler

            Jena Malone as Geli Raubal

            Julianna Margulies as Helene Hanfstaengel

            Matthew Modine as Fritz Gerlich

            Liev Schreiber as Ernst Hanfstaengel

            Peter Stormare as Ernst Rohm

            Frederick von Thun as Von Ludendorff

            Peter O'Toole as Von Hindenburg

            Zoe Telford as Eva Braun

            Terence Harvey as Gustav von Kahr

            Justin Salinger as Dr. Josef Goebbels

            Chris Larkin as Hermann Goering

            James Babson as Rudolph Hess

            Joel Kirby as Prosecutor Stenglein

            Patrizia Netzer as Sophie Gerlich

            Harvey Friedman as Friedrich Hollander

            Nicole Marischka as Blandine Erbinger

            Thomas Sangster as Adolf Hitler (age 10)

            Robert Glenister as Anton Drexler

            Ian Hogg as Alois Hitler

            Brendan Hughes as Lt. Guffman

            Howie Lotker as Hans

            Robert Russell as Von Papen

            David Fisher as Georg Bell

            Hana Frejkova as Frieda

            Wolfgang Muller as Gregory Strasser

            Christopher Ettridge as Gen. Von Schleicher

            David Calder as Dosch

            Marek Vasut as Max Amann

            Bruce Byron as Mueller

            George Pensotti as Judge Neithardt

            Julian Wadham as Capt. Mayr

            Richard Haas as Karl Lueger

            Richard Katz as Dr. Bloch

            Rod Grover as Friedrich Hoffman

            Jiri D. Novotny as Von Lussow

            Jiri M. Sieber as Ulrich Graf
See full cast

Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

Ginny

Barry L

Cast

Trailers & Clips

More Like This