Hitler – Dead or Alive
| Hitler - Dead or Alive | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nick Grinde |
| Produced by | Ben Judell |
| Written by | Karl Brown |
| Screenplay by | Sam Neuman |
| Starring | Ward Bond |
| Music by | Leo Erdody |
| Cinematography | Paul Ivano |
| Edited by | Jack Dennis |
Production company |
Ben Judell Productions |
| Distributed by | Charles House |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Hitler – Dead or Alive is a 1942 American war film directed by Nick Grinde.
Plot summary
The plot of this film was inspired by true events. During the early stages of World War II a prominent American businessman offered a reward of one million dollars to bring Adolf Hitler to justice, dead or alive. Russell Hicks plays the part of the American businessman in this film who hires three gangster ex-convicts released from Alcatraz prison. The gangsters are played by Ward Bond, Warren Hymer and Paul Fix.
The three join the Royal Canadian Air Force to enter Germany and pose as musicians to gain access to Hitler, played by Robert Watson. The gangsters quickly cut Hitler’s hair and shave off his mustache as SS soldiers try to break the door in. When the SS manage to enter the room they fail to recognize their leader and drag all the men, including Hitler, outside to be shot.
The quasi-comic tone of the film turns dead serious at the end, when a desperate Hitler makes a break for it and is shot by the SS officer in charge, who states disdainfully (and ironically): "To think that Germany could produce a piece of filth like you", and Bond makes a long patriotic speech while facing a firing squad.[1]
Cast
- Ward Bond as Steve Maschick
- Dorothy Tree as Else von Brandt
- Warren Hymer as Hans 'Dutch' Havermann
- Paul Fix as Joe 'The Book' Conway
- Russell Hicks as Samuel Thornton
- Bruce Edwards as Johnny Stevens
- Felix Basch as Col. Hecht
- Bobby Watson as Adolf Hitler
- Frederick Giermann as Meyer
- Kenneth Harlan as Cutler
- Fee Malten as Greta
In other media
In November 2012, while being interviewed by Playboy magazine, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino admitted the inspiration for his film Inglourious Basterds came from Hitler - Dead or Alive.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ Erickson, Hal. "Hitler: Dead or Alive (1942)". Allmovie Guide.
- ↑ "Celebrity Interview with Django Unchained director Quentin Tarantino". Playboy. November 16, 2012.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hitler - Dead or Alive. |
- Hitler – Dead or Alive at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Hitler – Dead or Alive at the Internet Movie Database
- Hitler – Dead or Alive is available for free download at the Internet Archive