Boys from Brazil, The (1978)

The Boys from Brazil (1978), directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

What would Hollywood do without nazis?

An elderly nazi-hunter becomes aware of a dastardly plan to clone dozens of copies of Adolph Hitler, who will then... well, they'll work that out later.

Oops, I've spoiled the big plot reveal from 1h33m into the movie. Really, this is ridiculous. It's not wrong for the audience to be ahead of the characters, but 75 minutes ahead?

I give them points for ambition, but the multi-continent science fiction plot develops with glacial slowness. The science-film interlude with Bruno Ganz (later known across the internet for his Downfall Hitler) in the middle is terribly unnecessary. The whole plot is overblown.

Further: the Jewish and German ethnic characters are caricatures. Particularly in the case of the nazis: something filmmakers never get is that evil, to be effective, must be appealing.

Laurence Olivier lays on a thick character inspired by Simon Wiesenthal.

Gregory Peck is hard to accept as the evil Dr Josef Mengele, but seems to be enjoying himself. The real character was still alive and hiding when this was made. He drowned a few months later (in Brazil!) and the remains were identified years later.

The kid who plays the multiple Hitler clones never made another film.

Frantic Jerry Goldsmith score.

Shout Factory Blu-ray. Rather good image in many scenes.