Fatherland (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Christopher Menaul

Writers (WGA):

Robert Harris (novel)
Stanley Weiser (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

26 November 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

It's 1964. What if Hitler had won the war?

Plot:

Fictional account of what might have happend if Hitler had won the war. It is now the 1960s and Germany's war crimes have so far been kept a secret...

Plot Keywords:

Germany | Nazi | 1960s | Hitler | Genocide

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	SS-Sturmbannführer Xavier March
Miranda Richardson	...	Charlie Maguire
Peter Vaughan	...	SS-Oberstgruppenführer Artur Nebe
Michael Kitchen	...	SS-Untersturmführer Max Jäger
Jean Marsh	...	Anna von Hagen
John Woodvine	...	Franz Luther
John Shrapnel	...	SS-Obergruppenführer Odilo 'Globus' Globocnik
Clive Russell	...	Krebs
Clare Higgins	...	Klara
Pavel Andel	...	Man in Dark Coat
Petronella Barker	...	Helga Schröter, Tour Guide (as Petronella O. Barker)
Sarah Berger	...	Leni Kalder
Jan Bidlas	...	Bellboy
Stuart Bunce	...	Blind Soldier
Charles De'Ath	...	Fake Porter

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Eis Film

Trivia:

After President Kennedy cancels his meeting with Hitler and drives away, a very quick three second shot reveals a tall silver haired man, wearing a gray SS uniform, standing on a VIP platform next to several German generals. This man is intended to be Reinhard Heydrich who, in Fatherland's version of the future, became the Reichsfuhrer-SS after Heinrich Himmler.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Early into the movie a signed photo of Adolf Hitler with an admirer is shown. The signature on the photo doesn't even remotely resemble Hitler's actual signature.

Quotes:

SS-Untersturmführer Max Jäger: [Ordering coffee in SS Headquarters as a male and female prisoner are led away] Another busy day in the Sexual Crimes Unit. Who are the lovebirds?
Sex Crimes Cop: Pure Aryan woman and a Polock. Caught right in the act. Coffee, please. Resettlement day for her, ten years hard labor for him. I just don't understand these people.
SS-Untersturmführer Max Jäger: Every time somebody makes love, somebody else writes a report.
Sex Crimes Cop: Yeah, that's right.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Excellent movie

An excellent speculative drama backed up with actual WWII footage to add realism. I believe that if history had turned out differently, it may very well have happened just as this movie portrayed it. The premise of the Normandy invasion being repelled causing America to pull out of Europe and revert to isolationism, as well as America turning its wrath to and defeating Japan to avenge Pearl Harbor are completely believable and not the least bit hokey. It has an interesting and engaging murder plot, as well as a good amount of suspense as the various players try to reveal the truth about Nazi war crimes and evade capture by the Gestapo. Nazi callousness, like March's colleague about the "pure-blooded Aryan and a Pollock caught in the act", the Gestapo chief's nonchalance toward the need of evidence, and the retired actress' anti-Semitic take on America's "Jewish Problem", are well played out without overused, propaganda-style vitriol. Hauer's performance as March is impeccable. Miranda Richardson is very good as well. Actually, good performances were rendered by all cast members. This movie is very entertaining and sparks the imagination with one of the ultimate "what ifs?". I highly recommend it.