In The Boys from Brazil, an elderly Nazi hunter is notified of something odd happening in Brazil. Is it the rebirth of the Third Reich? Or is it something far worse?
Review – The Boys from Brazil (1978) starring Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck, James Mason
The Boys from Brazil is a truly excellent movie. It tells the story of an elderly Nazi hunter, set on the trail of something having happened in Brazil. Something truly chilling, and horrifying. It turns into a science fiction film, and, if its premise were real, a horror film. It’s hard to review, without giving away the secret.
I will say that the acting is absolutely excellent. The Nazis in exile are as evil, and heartless, as you’d think they’d be. Laurence Olivier gives an incredible performance as the determined Nazi hunter. And Gregory Peck as Josef Mengele is evil, heartless, and truly frightening. It should be said that the ending of the film is truly heartwarming. And in a sense, terrifying. What the consequences of that heartwarming choice could change the future of the world …. Not necessarily in a good way.
It’s one of the rare movies that I’ll rate 5 stars. I truly can’t see any way it could be improved.
Cast of characters
- Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mockingbird) … Dr. Josef Mengele.
- Laurence Olivier (Rebecca) … Ezra Lieberman
- James Mason (Forever Darling, 5 Fingers) … Eduard Seibert
- Lilli Palmer (Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Four Poster) … Esther Lieberman
- Uta Hagen (The Other) … Frieda Maloney
- Steve Guttenberg (Short Circuit) … Barry Kohler
- Denholm Elliott (Raiders of the Lost Ark) … Sidney Beynon
- Rosemary Harris … Mrs. Doring
- John Dehner (Man on a Tightrope) … Henry Wheelock
- John Rubinstein … David Bennett
- Anne Meara … Mrs. Curry
- Jeremy Black … Jack Curry / Simon Harrington / Erich Doring / Bobby Wheelock
- Bruno Ganz … Professor Bruckner
Secondary characters
- Walter Gotell … Mundt
- David Hurst … Strasser
- Wolfgang Preiss … Lofquist
- Michael Gough (Batman (1989), The Crimson Cult) … Mr. Harrington
- Joachim Hansen … Fassler
- Sky du Mont … Hessen
- Carl Duering … Trausteiner
- Linda Hayden (Madhouse) … Nancy
- Richard Marner … Doring
- Georg Marischka … Gunther
- Günter Meisner … Farnbach
- Prunella Scales (Hobson’s Choice) … Mrs. Harrington
- Raul Faustino Saldanha … Ismael
- Jürgen Andersen … Kleist (as Jurgen Anderson)
- Mervyn Nelson … Stroop
- David Brandon … Schmidt
- Monica Gearson … Gertrud
- Wolf Kahler (Raiders of the Lost Ark) … Schwimmer
- Gerti Gordon … Berthe
Product Description
Elderly Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman has made a life of seeking out the last remnants of the Third Reich. But when he investigates a lead about a mysterious plot to assassinate ninety-four seemingly unconnected men from around the world, he makes a terrifying discovery that has dire consequences for the fate of the human race. Lieberman’s desperate quest to stop the unthinkable launches him on a collision course with the sinister figure behind the plot: the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele.
Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck and James Mason star in this Academy Award-nominated thriller from the director of 1968’s Planet of the Apes and based on the novel by Ira Levin, the author of Rosemary’s Baby. The Boys From Brazil: If they survive… will we?