“The Boys from Brazil” (1978) starring Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason / Z-View
The Boys from Brazil (1978)
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Screenplay: Heywood Gould; based on THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL by Ira Levin
Stars: Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Denholm Elliott, Rosemary Harris, John Dehner, John Rubinstein, Anne Meara, Walter Gotell, David Hurst, Wolfgang Preiss, Michael Gough, Joachim Hansen and Steve Guttenberg.
Tagline: If they survive…will we?
The Plot…
Barry Kohler, a young Nazi hunter discovers that Josef Mengele is still alive. Worse still, Mengele is part of a secret organization to bring back the Third Reich. Kohler reaches out to Ezra Lieberman, an elderly but famous Nazi hunter. Lierberman doesn’t believe Kohler.
But when Kohler is murdered, Lierberman discovers that Kohler was right.
And Mengele’s plan is even more sinister.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Boys from Brazil was nominated for three 1979 Academy Awards.
- Nominee for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Laurence Olivier
- Nominee Best Film Editing – Robert Swink
- Nominee for Best Music, Original Score – Jerry Goldsmith
George C. Scott was originally cast as Mengele. He dropped out before filming began.
Because of Laurence Olivier’s declining health the fight scene between he and Gregory Peck took several days to film. Both Olivier and Peck that it humorous that at their age they were rolling around on the floor.
Jeremy Black, who played the young Hitler clones, received an “introducing” credit. Ironically, The Boys from Brazil features his first and last acting role.
The Boys from Brazil (1978) rates 3 of 5 stars.
