THE HINDENBURG
US, 1975, 125 minutes, Colour.
George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft, William Atherton, Burgess Meredith, Roy Thinnes, Gig Young.
Directed by Robert Wise.
The Hindenburg was harshly reviewed by critics for no apparent reason except that it came at the end of the disaster trend. This is an interesting and quite enjoyable film. It may be that some people thought that a film based on a real incident has to be superior in content and style to fictitious disasters. The historical introduction about Zeppelins, the elaborate reconstruction of the Hindenburg, the Nazi Germany background, the visualising of the fiery disaster and the escapes make this film different. George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft and William Atherton give authority to their somewhat stereotyped roles. The rest of the passengers contribute the expected "human interest".
1. How interesting and enjoyable a film? Prom the point of view of history, as a disaster film, the human interest? Which aspects prevailed in the presentation by the film-makers?
2. Comment on the style of the film and its emphasis on times and days. The documentary overtones of the film: the credit sequences, the final destruction of the Hindenburg? The blending of the human interest in this documentary and historical framework? How did this work in terms of the audience's emotional response?
3. The value of the newsreel opening? The visual look of the 'thirties? The information given? The indications of Nazi propaganda for the Hindenburg? Situating the disaster in the history of the Twentieth Century and its atmosphere?
4. The parallelling of the newsreel opening and the climax? The fact that it was not in colour? The reasons for this? The documentary look of the destruction and the escapes? The stopping of the movement yet the continuity of the sound? The final impact of the historical journalist's comment? The emotional tones from the journalist actually watching the disaster and speaking on radio? A fitting epilogue for the film?
5. The interest in the history of the Zeppelins as portrayed in the newsreel? A quick way of giving background for the audience? The dangerous aspects of the machine? The comfort for flight? The mystique of the flying balloon? The quality of the visual reconstruction of the sets and the way that these were presented?
6. The political issues in the flight of the Zeppelins? Hitler and the pride of the Nazis? The focus on Ritter as investigating the danger, Boerth and the planting of the bomb? The Left-wing reaction and resistance to the Nazis? The attitude of the Captain in flying the Hindenburg? The maker, his idealism and skill? The Gestapo and its interest in the possible danger? How well did the characters present to the audience the political issues behind the Hindenburg?
7. The impact of the visuals of the Zeppelin in flight? The nature of the voyage, the details of Europe, the Atlantic, America? The speed, the weather etc.? The details of flight and the mechanisms? The details of life on board for the passengers, like a floating ship? How attractive this kind of travel? How potentially dangerous?
8. Ritter as the focus of the film? His background in the Air Force? His Security job? His capacity for meeting people? The clash with the Gestapo? George C. Scott's personality and skill in the portrayal? His work on the Zeppelin? The discovery of the bomb?
9. The contrast with the Countess? Anne Bancroft's performance? The Countess as embodying the issues of Hitler's Germany? Her wanting to escape? Her giving up her property and citizenship? The dangers and her passport? The filling in of her past and her relationship with Ritter? Helping with the card-sharps? Her longing to see her deaf daughter? The impact of her final meeting with the daughter at the end?
10. The array of people on the Zeppelin? The usual people in a disaster film? The presentation of them in Germany before take-off? The Jewish Family and the jewels? The comedian? The card-sharps? The businessman and his urgency? The details of their characters coming to light in terms of Ritter's investigation, e.g. the smuggling of the jewels, the card-sharps cheating, the businessman's telegrams?
11. How well portrayed was the character of Boerth? His background in Communist activity? His skill as a workman on the Zeppelin? His ideologies? The planting of the bomb? The sequence where he was out repairing the Hindenburg? The decisions at the end about where the bomb was planted? His death? The torture by the Gestapo and the background of his girlfriend's arrest and torture? The comment on early German Resistance?
12. The contrast of Vogel and his Gestapo attitudes? His suspicions of Ritter, his investigations, Nazi arrogance? His torture of Boerth? His death?
13. The character of the Captain and his ability to handle the Zeppelin? His pride in his work? His attitude during the disaster? The role of the Zeppelin maker and his being forced to go on board? His death?
14. How interesting was the background of the letter, the basis on which the suspicions were made? The details of security? Suspense via the character of Ritter as he searched for the bomb? German diplomacy. American security as background to the flight?
15. How well presented were the decisions Ritter had to make? About the bomb, Boerth?
16. The build-up of tension. the almost perfect flight? The time element? The waiting for the wind? Ritter's attempt to disengage the bomb? The visualising of his death? Leading to the drama of the holocaust and the way it was filmed?
17. How appropriate was the detail of the climax? The facts of the burning balloon. the feeling of the people involved, the crowds? The behaviour of the people saving themselves? the suffering?
18. The impact of the final list of the dead and their memory?
19. What was the purpose of making this film in the 70s? The disaster trend? The nostalgia about the 30s? The interest in Nazi Germany? The mystery? The human elements? Humane characters and themes?
