The Bunker (1981 film)

The Bunker is a 1981 American made-for-television historical war film produced by Time-Life Productions based on the 1975 book The Bunker by James P. O'Donnell.[1]

The Bunker
Based onThe Bunker
by James P. O'Donnell
Written byJohn Gay
Directed byGeorge Schaefer
Starring
Music byBrad Fiedel
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Executive producer(s)Bernard Sofronski
Producer(s)
CinematographyJean-Louis Picavet
Editor(s)Greyfox
Running time154 minutes
Production company(s)Time-Life Productions
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseJanuary 27, 1981 (1981-01-27)

The film, directed by George Schaefer and adapted for the screen by John Gay, is a dramatisation depicting the events surrounding Adolf Hitler's last weeks in and around his underground bunker in Berlin before and during the Battle of Berlin. The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Hitler, plus an all star cast including Richard Jordan, Susan Blakely, and Cliff Gorman.

Plot

The film opens in 1945, with O'Donnell (James Naughton) gaining entry to the Führerbunker by bribing a Soviet sentry with a packet of cigarettes. It is followed by the film's moving to flashbacks to the months between January and May 1945 as Hitler and those in the bunker faced their last days and nights.

The actors' interpretations of the events differ in ways from the traditional accounts. For example, during the final meeting between Hitler and Albert Speer, Hopkins adopts a sarcastic tone and gestures (including mock applause) that suggest that Hitler was already aware of Speer's betrayal, even though he uses the exact words recounted by the witnesses. This became a fairly controversial scene due to a perception in some circles that the resemblance to Jesus Christ's legendary foreseeing of Judas's betrayal was intentional. These accusations were consistently denied, as were reports regarding a rumoured on-set romance between Piper Laurie (Magda Goebbels) and Cliff Gorman (Joseph Goebbels).

Also, the film constantly shifts the point-of-view character. This includes characters who are not known to have left their experiences on record. For example, Dr. Werner Haase is used in this manner, even though he was never interviewed (having died in late 1950). Likewise, two scenes are written from the viewpoint of Hitler's cook, Constanze Manziarly, and in one scene, Manziarly actually has a flashback, remembering happier days. However, Manziarly disappeared while escaping from the bunker, so neither O'Donnell nor any other person was able to interview her or get her viewpoint.

Given O'Donnell's work on the breakout, the film ends just as the groups are leaving the bunker complex of the Reich Chancellery.

Cast

In a short scene at the beginning of the film, a younger O'Donnell is played by actor James Naughton. O'Donnell himself provided brief voice-over narrations at the beginning and end of the film.

Anthony Hopkins won an Emmy for his portrayal of Adolf Hitler. Actors on the set claimed his performance was so convincing that those playing German soldiers snapped to attention whenever Hopkins came onto the set, even if he wasn't in character.

Actors Michael Sheard (Himmler) and Tony Steedman (Jodl) reprised their characters from the 1973 British television film The Death of Adolf Hitler.

Awards

Won:

  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Anthony Hopkins

Nominated:

  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Piper Laurie
  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
  • René Magnol (production mixer)
  • Robert L. Harman (re-recording mixer)
  • William L. McCaughey (re-recording mixer)
  • Howard S. Wollman (re-recording mixer)
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gollark: Python has a cache of integers between -5 and 127 or something.
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gollark: Hold on.
gollark: Oh, I actually proved that 8 was 7 using Python ages ago.

See also

Downfall, 2004 film

References
  1. J. O'Connor, John (January 27, 1981). "TV: 'Bunker,' On Hitler's Last Days". The New York Times.
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