The Boys From Brazil (1978)

An internationally famous Nazi hunter (Laurence Olivier) living in Vienna is contacted by a young American (Steve Guttenberg) in Paraguay. The American has seen a gathering of important ex-Nazis and senses something big is going on. But no one is prepared for the shocking plan! Based on the novel by Ira Levin (ROSEMARY'S BABY) and directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (PATTON). The film starts off on shaky ground and never quite stabilizes. The premise is intriguing but so far fetched that even a leaping suspension of belief can't make it work. Which isn't to say it isn't entertaining, it is but probably for all the wrong reasons. I adore Gregory Peck but who in their right mind would cast the most straight arrow of American actors as a frothing at the mouth Nazi sadist? It's hard to suppress a giggle when Peck as Josef Mengele snarls in a terrible Teutonic accent, "Shut up, you ugly bitch!". Olivier fares better because he seems to be having a bit of fun with his role. The Oscar nominated Jerry Goldsmith score is good though. With James Mason, Lilli Palmer, Uta Hagen (in a rare film role), Rosemary Harris, Denholm Elliott, Bruno Ganz, Anne Meara, John Dehner, John Rubinstein and young Jeremy Black playing four roles and awful in all four of them.