Hitler's Reign of Terror
Encyclopedia
Hitler's Reign of Terror is an independently released 1934 Pre-Code social problem film
that attacked Adolf Hitler
. The film is a combination of live action and documentary. Despite the fact that the New York state censor board refused the film a license, it played for two weeks in New York City in theaters filled to capacity. In Chicago the film was only released after the title was changed to Hitler Reigns to placate the German government. Mordaunt Hall
gave the film a negative review in The New York Times when it was released. Film Daily
scoffed at the film for its prediction that Hitler's Germany was a future threat to world peace.
. Vanderbilt meets with Hill, and then flies out of the country. Hill talks with Vanderbilt about the problems in his country, then a re-enacted interview between Adolf Hitler and Vanderbilt. During a viewing of World War I battle footage, Hitler's home town, Leonidad, Austria, and his parents' graves are pictured. Vanderbilt goes to Vienna, to see Chancellor Dollfuss, and he films several Austrian Nazis riots during a parade. In a re-enactment, Vanderbilt's passport is stolen, and there are several shots of Nazis abusing Jews. In yet another re-enactment, Vanderbilt interviews Crown Prince Wilhelm, and more books are burned. Helen Keller
talks to an interviewer about her books, which were burned by the Nazis. Then a conversation Vanderbilt, Kaiser Wilhelm II in Doorn, Holland, and Prince Louis Ferdinand had is re-enacted. Actual anti-Nazi speeches given by prominent Jews and some Gentiles are shown and the Nazis are shown trying to alter the Bible. In the final scene, Congressman Samuel Dickstein of New York and Hill give speeches directly to the audience, explaining the dangers of Nazism.
scoffed at the film for its premise that Hitler's Germany threatened world peace in the future.
Social problem film
A social problem film is a narrative film that integrates a larger social conflict into the individual conflict between its characters. Like many film genres, the exact definition is often in the eye of the beholder, but Hollywood did produce and market a number of topical films in the 1930s and by...
that attacked Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. The film is a combination of live action and documentary. Despite the fact that the New York state censor board refused the film a license, it played for two weeks in New York City in theaters filled to capacity. In Chicago the film was only released after the title was changed to Hitler Reigns to placate the German government. Mordaunt Hall
Mordaunt Hall
Mordaunt Hall was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for The New York Times, from October 1924 to September 1934....
gave the film a negative review in The New York Times when it was released. Film Daily
Film Daily
The Film Daily was a daily publication that existed from 1915 to 1970 in the United States.For 55 years, Film Daily was the main source of news on the film and television industries...
scoffed at the film for its prediction that Hitler's Germany was a future threat to world peace.
Plot
As the picture opens, a re-enacted phone call featuring reporter Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. in Germany, and narrator Edwin C. Hill in New York is depicted. Then a parade of people carrying torchlights in Berlin, where Jewish works and other political books are burnedBook burning
Book burning, biblioclasm or libricide is the practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, books or other written material and media. In modern times, other forms of media, such as phonograph records, video tapes, and CDs have also been ceremoniously burned, torched, or shredded...
. Vanderbilt meets with Hill, and then flies out of the country. Hill talks with Vanderbilt about the problems in his country, then a re-enacted interview between Adolf Hitler and Vanderbilt. During a viewing of World War I battle footage, Hitler's home town, Leonidad, Austria, and his parents' graves are pictured. Vanderbilt goes to Vienna, to see Chancellor Dollfuss, and he films several Austrian Nazis riots during a parade. In a re-enactment, Vanderbilt's passport is stolen, and there are several shots of Nazis abusing Jews. In yet another re-enactment, Vanderbilt interviews Crown Prince Wilhelm, and more books are burned. Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
talks to an interviewer about her books, which were burned by the Nazis. Then a conversation Vanderbilt, Kaiser Wilhelm II in Doorn, Holland, and Prince Louis Ferdinand had is re-enacted. Actual anti-Nazi speeches given by prominent Jews and some Gentiles are shown and the Nazis are shown trying to alter the Bible. In the final scene, Congressman Samuel Dickstein of New York and Hill give speeches directly to the audience, explaining the dangers of Nazism.
Reception
Mordaunt Hall, in his negative review of the film in The New York Times, states that the film comes off heavy handed and is in need of some subtlety. Film DailyFilm Daily
The Film Daily was a daily publication that existed from 1915 to 1970 in the United States.For 55 years, Film Daily was the main source of news on the film and television industries...
scoffed at the film for its premise that Hitler's Germany threatened world peace in the future.