Hôtel Terminus (1988)

A documentary about Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo chief of Lyon, and his life after the war.

Director:

Marcel Ophüls

Writer:

Marcel Ophüls

Stars:

Klaus Barbie, Claude Lanzmann, Marcel Ophüls

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Klaus Barbie	...	Himself
Marcel Ophüls	...	Himself
Johannes Schneider-Merck	...	German Import-Exporter, Barbie's Neighbour in Lima
Raymond Lévy	...	Billiard Player in Lyon
Marcel Cruat	...	Billiard Player in Lyon
Henri Varlot	...	Billiard Player in Lyon
Pierre Mérindol	...	Journalist from Lyon
Johann Otten	...	Farmer, School Friend from Barbie's native village
Peter Minn	...	Wehrmacht Major, retired, Barbie's high school friend
Claude Bourdet	...	Resistance Leader
Eugene Kolb	...	Lt., C.I.C. Control Officer, retired, Barbie's former Superior
Lise Lesèvre	...	Member of the French Underground
Lucie Aubrac	...	Resistance Leader
Raymond Aubrac	...	Resistance Leader
Simone Lagrange	...	Auschwitz Survivor

Storyline

This full-length documentary deals with the life, career and trial of Nazi SS officer Klaus Barbie, known as the Butcher of Lyons. Virtually all aspects of his life are covered. His childhood and schooling in Germany; his early military career; his role in the head of intelligence in Lyons; his post-war employment by the US military; his life in Bolivia; his return to Europe; his trial and conviction. Interviewed are friends, enemies, associates, heroes and traitors.

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Plot Keywords:

lyon | trial | bolivia | post war | gestapo | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

West Germany France USA

Language:

English Spanish French German

Release Date:

November 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie

Box Office

Gross USA:

$341,018

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Memory Pictures Company,The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

267 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was #8 on Gene Siskel 's list of the "Best Films of 1988."

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Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #6.2 (1993)

User Reviews

One of the best documentaries on WWII occupation ever made

Along with "The Sorrow and the Pity" (from same director), this is definitely one of the most gripping and informative documentaries you will ever get to see. Focusing of the life of the Klaus Barbie, a ruthless SS interrogator later labeled "The Butcher of Lyons", implicated in over 4000 deaths and the deportation of over 7000 Jews in occupied France, this documentary not only paints a relentless picture of the German occupation in France, but also of the 40-year manhunt of a Nazi war criminal. Employed by the American government after the war for his contacts, and later protected by several other governments eager to use his "talents", Marcel Ophuls exposes a complex web of political intrigue and deceit that spans over decades.

While some spectators seemed to get a bit lost having absolutely no prior knowledge about European war history not involving an American elite team saving the world, just knowing that France was occupied by Germans during WWII and that legendary French Resistance Leader Jean Moulin was one of Barbie's many victims should be enough to follow and understand this must-see documentary just fine!