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The Boys from Brazil | Year: 1978 Classification: Drama Directed: - Franklin J. Schaffner Actors/Actresses: - Gregory Peck - Laurence Olivier - James Mason - Sir Laurence Olivier Thriller with a First-Rate Cast When the film was made almost a quarter century ago, the concept of "cloning" was the stuff of science fiction, as far as the general public was concerned. However, with the recent developments in the area making headlines worldwide, the idea is not reserved to the imagination. Therefore, the basic premise of Hitler authorizing his own cloning doesn't seem as farfetched as it may have been. Hey, the Germans have given the world the Volkswagen; thus, their scientists could have possibly been working on the cloning process prior and during World War II. Regardless, the film features excellent work from stars Peck, Olivier, and Mason. Peck went against type by portraying Josef Mengele as a crafty, calculating, and ultimately evil scientist who would go to any length to preserve the Third Reich. Olivier, as the Nazi hunter Lieberman, displays his versatility with accents by doning a very believable Jewish brogue. Mason shows his usual cool as a Nazi hesitant but forced to support the machinations of Mengele. But, the film has an outstanding group of supporting players whose on-screen time may be brief but is memorable. Uta Hagen as an imprisoned Nazi nurse is captivating; stage veteran Rosemary Harris stands out as the widow of one of Mengele's victims; A young Steve Guttenburg shines as a Nazi hunter; and comedy team member Anne Meara (sans her husband) is great as another "mother" of a Hitler clone. But, it is Jeremy Black, a young actor who seems to have drifted into obscurity since the release of this motion picture, who is impressive as four of the "boys." Oh, yeah, the great Michael Gough is "hanging around" in this one, too! Look fast and you will see Prunella Scales from "Fawlty Towers" as Gough's wife. A pretty scary horror flick This movie has some exceptional acting talent -- Gregory Peck as an aging, obsessive Josef Mengele; Laurence Olivier as aging Nazi hunter, James Mason as an exiled Nazi leader and a fine supporting cast. The plot is one of the sickest ever. Dr. Josef Mengele has continued his sadistic experiments holed up in Paraguay, surrounded by fawning fellow Nazis. He has devoted his post World War II life to cloning Hitler (from a vile of blood drawn and skin scrapings taken shortly before Hitler's suicide). The 99 dark-haired, blue-eyed boys resulting from this work have been adopted into families around the world whose socio-economic profiles match that of the historical Hitler. The acting is over the top (especially Peck's), as is the plot. The ending is shocking, gruesome and, in two respects, emotionally touching. Don't miss Jeremy Black in the quadruple role of the young Hitler clones. He steals every scene he's in. He is particularly effective as the young Bobby Wheelock. Steve Guttenberg has a nicely-done, all-too-brief role early in the film. Peck is almost unrecognizable (he shaved the front of his head to recede his hairline for this role, and his eyes are black slits), but the character he brings to life his terrifying. I saw this movie 10 years ago and then again just recently. Every scene and every line stuck with me. I can't say the same for some other overrated horror flicks. This is a good film for just relaxing and taking a break -- not completely mindless, not particularly erudite, but very well-acted and well-cast. Overdone but chilling Gregory Peck plays a Nazi doctor who escaped to Brazil as the Third Reich fell, while Laurence Olivier plays a Nazi hunter on Peck's trail. What is the evil doctor involved in? How about the creation of a Fourth Reich led by an Adolf Hitler clone? Will Olivier catch Pevck in time? Will that be enough? Both of these great actors seem to have either tried too hard to make this movie work, or else treated it as somewhat of a farce. They overplay many of their scenes. Nevertheless, this is an intense, chilling, creepy movie with enough story to capture and maintain the viewer's attention. There is considerable gore at times; you might not want to pet a Doberman for a while after seeing "The Boys From Brazil". You might also find yourself wondering about the genetic background of eerily familiar-looking boys you might see, especially given recent advancements in cloning. Buy The Boys From Brazil at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Boys From Brazil Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Boys From Brazil This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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