1978's "Son of Hitler" is known among Peter Cushing fans as one of his four 'lost films' on the heels of his resurgence in "Star Wars," and like its immediate followups "Touch of the Sun" and "Black Jack" was simply a vanity project for their respective filmmakers, in this case actor/writer/producer Burkhard Driest, who managed to finance this $5 million disaster outside his native Germany. Co-writer Lukas Heller certainly had a sterling record with director Robert Aldrich ("What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte"), while director Rod Amateau had been more involved in television than films. In the title role, Bud Cort at least was well cast, his Wilhelm Hitler depicted as a woodcarving innocent who has been raised in the mountains, knowing nothing of his parentage until he comes down and becomes an object of derision among the Munich passersby. Acknowledging his existence is Nazi sympathizer Heinrich Haussner (Cushing), leader of the political organization NEIN! (Never Encourage Intellectual Nonsense), the height of the film's nonexistent humor. Along with his hulking but kindly assistant Tuennes (Leo Gordon), Haussner spends the first half tracking down his quarry, whom he is certain will help Germany rise again to a similar role of prominence, eventually swiping him from an insane asylum. The remainder consists of endless scenes depicting his teaching this naïve illiterate to imitate the speech and movements of his infamous father; he insists he can do it, but doesn't want to. Bud Cort was an inspired choice, evoking a Chaplinesque pathos that must have been intentional, but there's virtually nothing amusing to be seen throughout its laughless 94 minutes. Veteran Hollywood villain Leo V. Gordon actually does fairly well in a surprisingly sympathetic part, but native Teutonic villain Anton Diffring is sadly wasted in a supporting role garnering a meager five minutes screen time. Worst of all is the downbeat, yet more than appropriate ending, as both Cushing and Gordon wind up dead, and young Hitler back at the asylum, his true identity essentially discredited (the ironic fate of the picture itself). Watching Peter Cushing's Haussner climb up the steps to the roof to blow his brains out is probably the last thing a dedicated fan would enjoy seeing, considering the film's scripted intention as a 'comedy.' Among Cushing's lost quartet, this may have enjoyed the highest budget, making "Touch of the Sun" and "Black Jack" look even more like glorified home movies, yet has to rank even lower simply because of its lofty, wrongheaded ambitions (the others never aspired to be anything more than what they were). The most commonly used description over the years remains 'what were they thinking?' while a disappointed Bud Cort himself referred to it as a 'booger,' Burkhard Dreist's constant, obsessive interference essentially insuring his 'dream project' would never see proper release, a stubbornly insane movie made for an audience that never existed.
6 Reviews
Nein!
ulf-635-52336710 December 2015
Seven years prior to "Son of Hitler" Bud Cort made a name of himself as a morbid young man in "Harold and Maude". A cult semi-classic. In this muddy and very unfunny attempt to make black comedy out of the Fourth Reich arrival, Bud is Willi Hitler, son of Adolf. An illiterate woodcarver living in a quietly located cabin in the German highlands. Kidnapped by a right wing party führer. The name of this fascist movement; NEIN! "Never Encourage Intellectual Nonsense". The filmmakers are trying to create hilarious scenes without success. They try a whole range of secure sketches. We have seen it before. Much better. Extremely unfunny but with a great cast of characters.
A pricelessly twisted unreleased relic of Nazi mirth, starring the unforgettable comedy team of Cushing and Cort!
waverboy26 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
SON OF HITLER!!!!!!!!!!!!
(NOTE: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Oh my...where to begin...
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????????? Did they think this could ever possibly have an audience? And apparently it didn't, because it was never released in any country in any theatrical venue, broadcast medium, or video format whatsoever. Not officially, anyway... :) Luckily for this Cushing collector, I received an excellent film-chained VHS copy of it for my birthday...
Wilhelm Hitler (Bud Cort), Willi for short, son of Adolf, has been sheltered away from civilization on a mountaintop since WWII, courtesy of a reformed former Nazi officer. Peter Cushing is Heinrich Haussner, a senior member of a neo-Nazi-type organization called Never Encourage Intellectual Nonsense (N.E.I.N., yuk yuk), who finds out about Willi's existence, and wants to track him down in order to make him the new Fuehrer. All sorts of silly, tasteless, often boring, and ultimately twisted shenanigans follow.
Peter Cushing is very good indeed; his ripping apart of the storekeeper during his search for Hitler's son is particularly fine, and this is probably the only time you'll see him do pratfalls (although from a distance...whether he did his own stunts in this, I have no idea...I suspect he didn't). Poor Bud Cort gives it an admirable stab, considering the material he has to work with. I must say, with that haircut he does look the part. An easy check for Anton Diffring, who's thrown away in just a few scenes. HOWEVER...the inescapable problem with this film is that real footage of Adolf Hitler simply isn't funny. Not surprisingly. The constant use of real Nazi footage stops whatever feeble comedy there is dead in its tracks whenever it occurs. Perhaps if the writing were of early Mel Brooks-caliber, it would have worked a little better, but...it's not. So, as a comedy, this is a complete and utter disaster. But, as a nutzoid curiosity piece, it's priceless. This film is twisted. Peter's rapid-fire Hitler flashbacks during Bud's final speech are particularly unnerving. The tacking on of "Der Fuehrer's Face" over more real Nazi footage at the end just doesn't work, again not surprisingly, and ends the film on a particularly bizarre, creepy note. I think the only really funny scene in the film is where Bud's wandering around town all decked out in Nazi splendor, blissfully unaware of the negative historical significance of his outfit, causing horrified stares and car crashes. That actually had me laughing pretty hard. I also kind of liked the scene where Bud demonstrates to the girl in the car how Peter's forcing him to be his father by ranting Hitler-style, and Peter notices from afar and starts getting excited...
All in all, definitely a relic worth having, especially for Cushing fans, because it's a rare chance to see him play straight comedy in a major role. But, good luck in tracking it down!
(NOTE: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Oh my...where to begin...
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????????? Did they think this could ever possibly have an audience? And apparently it didn't, because it was never released in any country in any theatrical venue, broadcast medium, or video format whatsoever. Not officially, anyway... :) Luckily for this Cushing collector, I received an excellent film-chained VHS copy of it for my birthday...
Wilhelm Hitler (Bud Cort), Willi for short, son of Adolf, has been sheltered away from civilization on a mountaintop since WWII, courtesy of a reformed former Nazi officer. Peter Cushing is Heinrich Haussner, a senior member of a neo-Nazi-type organization called Never Encourage Intellectual Nonsense (N.E.I.N., yuk yuk), who finds out about Willi's existence, and wants to track him down in order to make him the new Fuehrer. All sorts of silly, tasteless, often boring, and ultimately twisted shenanigans follow.
Peter Cushing is very good indeed; his ripping apart of the storekeeper during his search for Hitler's son is particularly fine, and this is probably the only time you'll see him do pratfalls (although from a distance...whether he did his own stunts in this, I have no idea...I suspect he didn't). Poor Bud Cort gives it an admirable stab, considering the material he has to work with. I must say, with that haircut he does look the part. An easy check for Anton Diffring, who's thrown away in just a few scenes. HOWEVER...the inescapable problem with this film is that real footage of Adolf Hitler simply isn't funny. Not surprisingly. The constant use of real Nazi footage stops whatever feeble comedy there is dead in its tracks whenever it occurs. Perhaps if the writing were of early Mel Brooks-caliber, it would have worked a little better, but...it's not. So, as a comedy, this is a complete and utter disaster. But, as a nutzoid curiosity piece, it's priceless. This film is twisted. Peter's rapid-fire Hitler flashbacks during Bud's final speech are particularly unnerving. The tacking on of "Der Fuehrer's Face" over more real Nazi footage at the end just doesn't work, again not surprisingly, and ends the film on a particularly bizarre, creepy note. I think the only really funny scene in the film is where Bud's wandering around town all decked out in Nazi splendor, blissfully unaware of the negative historical significance of his outfit, causing horrified stares and car crashes. That actually had me laughing pretty hard. I also kind of liked the scene where Bud demonstrates to the girl in the car how Peter's forcing him to be his father by ranting Hitler-style, and Peter notices from afar and starts getting excited...
All in all, definitely a relic worth having, especially for Cushing fans, because it's a rare chance to see him play straight comedy in a major role. But, good luck in tracking it down!
One of a kind Nazi satire is unfunny and painful to watch. Still it has one of Peter Cushing's rare comedic turns which makes it worth enduring for bad movie lovers.
dbborroughs13 July 2006
Its nice to see Peter Cushing do comedy but couldn't he have picked a better movie?
Cushing (who is quite good if badly directed) plays an ex-Nazi general looking for the son of Adolf Hitler, who was spirited away after the war. Cushing wants to use him as part of the NEIN party, a fascist organization attempting to get power. When Willi appears in the person of Bud Cort things don't go as anyone planned.
This movie, which appears never to really have played anywhere, is one of a kind. I don't know how else to describe it. Offensive? Unfunny? Inept? How many words do I have? I would wonder how this film ever got made, but I suspect from the things that do work, that the script probably read well and seemed like a good idea (at least worth a paycheck for Cort,Cushing and Anton Diffring). The trouble occurred when it was filmed and what seemed like comedy and satire turned dark and decidedly not humorous, at least as its presented here. Then again I'm probably reaching for straws since this movie seems determined not to be anything else other than unnerving, why else would be have constant shots of Hitler cut into the action. It also seems to want to make a point of some kind, but I haven't figure out what that is.
Should you see this? For bad movie lovers and those who must see movies unlike anything else its a must. This movie will scar you and have you screaming in pain like the best of them (figuratively speaking). There is nothing quite like this film, sort of like there is nothing like chewing on aluminum foil or putting lemon juice in a paper cut. Anyone not looking for bad or unique cinematic experiences should stay away.
3 out of 10 for bad movie lovers, otherwise this is impossible to rate.
An aside. Hitler probably really did have a son, the result of his time in France during the First World War. He grew up working for the railroad and having almost no contact with his father.
Cushing (who is quite good if badly directed) plays an ex-Nazi general looking for the son of Adolf Hitler, who was spirited away after the war. Cushing wants to use him as part of the NEIN party, a fascist organization attempting to get power. When Willi appears in the person of Bud Cort things don't go as anyone planned.
This movie, which appears never to really have played anywhere, is one of a kind. I don't know how else to describe it. Offensive? Unfunny? Inept? How many words do I have? I would wonder how this film ever got made, but I suspect from the things that do work, that the script probably read well and seemed like a good idea (at least worth a paycheck for Cort,Cushing and Anton Diffring). The trouble occurred when it was filmed and what seemed like comedy and satire turned dark and decidedly not humorous, at least as its presented here. Then again I'm probably reaching for straws since this movie seems determined not to be anything else other than unnerving, why else would be have constant shots of Hitler cut into the action. It also seems to want to make a point of some kind, but I haven't figure out what that is.
Should you see this? For bad movie lovers and those who must see movies unlike anything else its a must. This movie will scar you and have you screaming in pain like the best of them (figuratively speaking). There is nothing quite like this film, sort of like there is nothing like chewing on aluminum foil or putting lemon juice in a paper cut. Anyone not looking for bad or unique cinematic experiences should stay away.
3 out of 10 for bad movie lovers, otherwise this is impossible to rate.
An aside. Hitler probably really did have a son, the result of his time in France during the First World War. He grew up working for the railroad and having almost no contact with his father.
This Film Is Not Worthy of the Talents of Its Lead Actors!!
tiwannae25 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Now first-off, let me tell you that I am a HUGE fan of Bud Cort, and as probably his biggest fan, I try to get my hands on any of his performances I can find to put in my video collection. This film was one of them and what I surprise I got...
God help the principals of this misguided screen venture!! It hurts when you see really good actors in films that make little to no use of their talents!! Not all the cast were on the same page in this film.
There are a lot of bad, over-the-top, and stiff performances, and of the 3 main characters played by Bud Cort (the lead) and his co-stars Peter Cushing and Leo Gordon, I think they did the best they could as professionals and were the most enjoyable to watch. But they couldn't save the film.
Mr. Cort, as Willi Hitler, Hitler's innocent and illiterate son, and Mr. Cushing and Mr. Gordon in their respective roles as one of Hitler's right-hand men and his assistant on a quest to find Hitler's son, were old-fashioned troopers throughout the film, but I had a strong feeling that Mr. Cort, as the film neared its end, had a hard time containing his disappointment with being in it.
I saw an interview Mr. Cort did where he spoke of having had great hopes for the film and that all those hopes turned to dust because of his troubles with the interference by the producers of the film who kept making changes to the script during filming.
Every actor has a role or two he'd like to bury and have it be forgotten. I sympathize with Mr. Cort, who, when once asked about this film, called it a "booger".
God help the principals of this misguided screen venture!! It hurts when you see really good actors in films that make little to no use of their talents!! Not all the cast were on the same page in this film.
There are a lot of bad, over-the-top, and stiff performances, and of the 3 main characters played by Bud Cort (the lead) and his co-stars Peter Cushing and Leo Gordon, I think they did the best they could as professionals and were the most enjoyable to watch. But they couldn't save the film.
Mr. Cort, as Willi Hitler, Hitler's innocent and illiterate son, and Mr. Cushing and Mr. Gordon in their respective roles as one of Hitler's right-hand men and his assistant on a quest to find Hitler's son, were old-fashioned troopers throughout the film, but I had a strong feeling that Mr. Cort, as the film neared its end, had a hard time containing his disappointment with being in it.
I saw an interview Mr. Cort did where he spoke of having had great hopes for the film and that all those hopes turned to dust because of his troubles with the interference by the producers of the film who kept making changes to the script during filming.
Every actor has a role or two he'd like to bury and have it be forgotten. I sympathize with Mr. Cort, who, when once asked about this film, called it a "booger".
'The Boys from Brazil' was funnier
richardchatten2 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
When I first came across the title 'Hitler's Son' in Peter Cushing's filmography I anticipated nonsense like 'Shock Waves' (1977). Later I was astonished to find that 'Films and Filming' had put it on the cover of their June 1978 edition, with a photo-spread inside. But after that silence fell. The film now exists more as a rumour than as a film anyone has ever actually seen; and it would probably be better if it remained that way.
The script was co-written by Robert Aldrich's onetime collaborator Lukas Heller and is reasonably well acted with a straight face by most of the cast. Top-billed Peter Cushing and Bud Cort in the title role both give decent performances (although I'm not sure if Cushing was even aware that he was supposed to be in a comedy, while Cort's expression of perpetual wide-eyed bewilderment may not be acting). Leo Gordon is good as Cushing's loyal sidekick; although Anton Diffring is barely in the film
The film itself is tinny and unfunny. Maybe it was intended as satire, but if it is it certainly doesn't work. What happens when Young Hitler finally addresses a sparsely populated gathering of neo-Nazis will have been anticipated by most people familiar with 'The Great Dictator', while when the final credits roll, the epilogue suggesting that maybe none of it actually happened may reflect the view of the bemused viewer.
The script was co-written by Robert Aldrich's onetime collaborator Lukas Heller and is reasonably well acted with a straight face by most of the cast. Top-billed Peter Cushing and Bud Cort in the title role both give decent performances (although I'm not sure if Cushing was even aware that he was supposed to be in a comedy, while Cort's expression of perpetual wide-eyed bewilderment may not be acting). Leo Gordon is good as Cushing's loyal sidekick; although Anton Diffring is barely in the film
The film itself is tinny and unfunny. Maybe it was intended as satire, but if it is it certainly doesn't work. What happens when Young Hitler finally addresses a sparsely populated gathering of neo-Nazis will have been anticipated by most people familiar with 'The Great Dictator', while when the final credits roll, the epilogue suggesting that maybe none of it actually happened may reflect the view of the bemused viewer.
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