Killing Hitler

What hits you first and foremost in a documentary found on the Yesterday channel (akin to any History channel) is the style of this doc. The constant switching between dramatisation and reality is not something you see often, especially not when the dramatisation is an almost film noire type style. Add to that a somewhat fancy "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" shooting style and a full sequence of events that fools viewers into thinking they are watching something that had really happened (only to be told at the end of it that all of that never occurred) and have you have one odd documentary. It seems it is about what could have been a sensational discovery (the knowledge of these scheme was unknown until 1994!) yet does not really deliver anything sensational. Therefore it is too long and an hour on this topic would do. I enjoyed nevertheless and I think director Lovering loved directing this one too...

This is a drama-documentary, dealing with the operation that set out to form a feasible plot to kill Hitler. It features actual footage from the time, someone who was actually there and speaks about it today, narration, and lastly, a group of experts, and actors playing real people involved in the planning in portions set during the time that the ideas were being gone over, both sitting around tables and discussing if this or that way could work, and, of utmost importance, if it would hurt, or benefit, the Nazi cause to go through with the assassination. OK, the last-mentioned group are seen doing other things, as well. This is all inter-cut, and there are times where this seems like it's scared of boring you. Some of the cinematography and editing is a tad flashy. The majority of this is great, though, and it can't be denied that this is well-made, and with impressive production value. Its running time is about forty-some minutes long for both of the episodes, so almost 100 total, or not much less than two hours. The performances are solid. This is interesting and informative. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know about the historical event that, in this case, *didn't* transpire. 7/10

Part documentary and part movie, this joint BBC/History Channel Mini-Series examines "Operation Foxley", a real SOE (Special Operations Executive) plot to kill Adolph Hitler in World War II that was never carried out. This 2 part mini-series uses actors and narration, mixed with archival footage, to tell the story of the development of the plan in November of 1944. It also utilizes a modern panel of experts who hash over the entire plan, dissecting and discussing the whys and wherefores and ultimately come to their own personal decisions as to whether or not the plan should have been carried out, and why. Additionally the program draws on some personal recollections of people who were alive at the time, both British and German. The film also touches on the cross-agency conflicts between the SOE and the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service - aka MI6). The entire story is told from the point of view of "LB/X", the code name for the British Staff Officer responsible for developing "Foxley".

The production is up to the usual BBC standards with accurate costuming and sets for the recreation of past events. For Americans the British documentary style can be occasionally jarring as the production switches from the modern panel of experts to the recreations and back again. Once you get used to it, though, the transitions are easy to take.

If you're looking for spies and war-time shootouts this is not the program for you. If you're interested in the historical facts, and educated "what-ifs", then this is for you and will keep your interest for the approximately 90 minute running time.

Regarding Phoonominal's review of this excellent drama-documentary, he (I presume) is substantially incorrect about the role of women in SIS.

In WW2, SIS recruited from all circumstances, anyone who could contribute to the cause would be eligible.

Consequently there were a fair number of women in executive positions, including planning.

In several cases women ran entire networks for SIS, e.g. Marie Fouchard.

(The same is true of SOE, particularly in the field).

So, my recommendation is to ignore Phoonominal's ill-informed guesswork and watch this terrific, well-acted and fact-based production.