The Bunker (1981 film)
| The Bunker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Based on |
The Bunker by James P. O'Donnell |
| Screenplay by | John Gay |
| Directed by | George Schaefer |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Bernard Sofronski |
| Producer(s) | |
| Running time | 154 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBS Time-Life Productions |
| Original release | January 27, 1981 |
The Bunker is a 1981 CBS television film, Time Life production based on the book The Bunker by James P. O'Donnell.
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 for the city.
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.
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.
...
Wikipedia