The Architecture of Doom (1989)

An absorbing and chilling documentary about the National Socialist aesthetic, and how attempts to create the Aryan Ideal caused the extermination of millions. Aspects covered include: ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Cohen

Writer:

Peter Cohen

Stars:

Rolf Arsenius, Bruno Ganz, Sam Gray

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rolf Arsenius	...	Narrator (original version) (voice)
Bruno Ganz	...	Narrator (German, subtitled English versions) (voice)
Sam Gray	...	Narrator (dubbed English version)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Bormann	...	Self (archive footage)
Karl Brandt	...	Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Karl Brandt)
Arno Breker	...	Self (archive footage)
Hermann Giesler	...	Self (archive footage)
Joseph Goebbels	...	Self (archive footage) (as Josef Goebbels)
Heinrich Himmler	...	Self (archive footage)
Adolf Hitler	...	Self (archive footage)
Wilhelm Keitel	...	Self (archive footage)
Viktor Lutze	...	Self (archive footage)
Jeanne Moreau	...	Narrator (French version) (voice)
Alfred Rosenberg	...	Self (archive footage)
Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt	...	Self (archive footage)

Storyline

An absorbing and chilling documentary about the National Socialist aesthetic, and how attempts to create the Aryan Ideal caused the extermination of millions. Aspects covered include: Hitler's epiphany while viewing Wagner's opera 'Rienzi', the rise of the homo-erotic Grecian/Nordic ideal, the parallels drawn between the 'degenerate' art of the cubists and dadaists and the mentally ill/physically deformed, the Nazi obsession with purity and cleanliness, and, finally, the descent of the Jewish people to the level of a virus/vermin.

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Plot Keywords:

degenerate art | jewish | nazi | washroom | shower | 

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Taglines:

Skönhetskult och barbari i Tredje Riket

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

While researching this film in Germany, 'Cohen, Peter' stumbled upon an obscure industrial documentary about various methods of vermin control for factory use. This short, entitled "Kleinkrieg" (or "Little War"), proved invaluable as it was the first to advocate the use of Zyklon-B as an effective means of mass extermination.

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Connections

Features The Eternal Jew (1940)

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Soundtracks

Rienzi (excerpt)
Music by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Fascinating insight to what drove Hitler and his ideals to fruition.

This is an excellent documentary and exposé into the psychology and ideals that, in great part, were responsible for Hitler's passion and vision that would drive the dynamics of Germany's politics. As absurd and surreal his ambitions may have been... there was a part of his dream that oddly seems honest and noble but character flawed. By no means should anyone admire the reality of his vision but be fascinated by how fast and furious Hitler and the Nazi doctrine brought a crushed post WWI Germany and its people to the brink of world domination in less then a decade. Indeed Hitler was an example of extreme self anointed indulgence and a deluded fantasy that millions paid the price by being murdered and exterminated as human vermin. A tragedy and a mind that I hope will never see the light of day ever again.

Highly recommended 9/10

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

13 October 1989 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Architektur des Untergangs

Company Credits

Production Co:

Poj Filmproduktion AB, SVT Drama, Sandrews

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1