Hitler parodies suffer ‘Downfall’ of their own

[scandal 951]

Hitler parodies suffer ‘Downfall’ of their own

By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer

5:16 p.m. CDT, April 22, 2010

Adolf Hitler, for years a vessel of frustration in a popular Internet video meme, is being quieted.

"Downfall," a German film released in 2004 about Hitler's last days, has been adopted for wildly popular YouTube parody rants about topics as varied as a late-season collapse by the Cubs, Kanye West and Apple's new iPad.

Every spoof is from the same scene in the film: A furious, defeated Hitler, played by Bruno Ganz, unleashes an impassioned, angry speech to his remaining staff, huddled with him in his bunker.

The scene takes on a widely different meaning when paired with English subtitles, made even funnier by the scene's intense melodrama, artful staging and timely cutaways.

It was the viral video that refused to die — until it did.

This week, the clips on YouTube, many of which had been watched by hundreds of thousands, even millions, began disappearing from the site. Constantin Film, the company that owns the rights to "Downfall," asked for them to be removed, and YouTube complied.

Martin Moszkowicz, head of film and TV at Constantin in Munich, said the company had been fighting copyright infringement for years. Jewish organizations have also complained about the tastefulness of the clips, he said.

Many Hitler clips were still online Thursday, and new parodies were popping up featuring Hitler ranting about his removal from YouTube. It's not known how many have existed, but estimates run in the hundreds.

"Downfall" grossed $5.5 million at the U.S. box office and was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign-language film.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I thought that those clips were going to last on YouTube for a thousand years.

[scandal 951]

I thought that those clips were going to last on YouTube for a thousand years.

No, that will be the Fourth Reich.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

No, that will be the Fourth Reich.

I'm surprised Hitler didn't move to Australia since they are the superior race.

[scandal 951]

I'm surprised Hitler didn't move to Australia since they are the superior race.

That was his game plan. He got going to retire there, but his plans got messed up by the Normandy invasion. Damn Allies!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

No, that will be the Fourth Reich.

I thought that it was the Frank Reich.

I'm surprised Hitler didn't move to Australia since they are the superior race.

So he could hook up with a Botany Babe?

Edited April 23, 2010 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[scandal 951]

So he could hook up with a Botany Babe?

What ? Don't you know Eva? EVA BRAUN?? Of the Canberra Brauns???

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

What ? Don't you know Eva? EVA BRAUN?? Of the Canberra Brauns???

That's Eva Goolagong Braun to you.

Edited April 23, 2010 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[Ali G. 37]

I'm surprised Hitler didn't move to Australia since they are the superior race.

It's just amusing to me that the most ethnocentric person on here claims I am the one who beats on about a country. The difference is that I actually discus their internationally recognized progress, like the article from the IMF based out of Washington D.C. Whereas, you claim that as longs as someone in the poorest city in the country is happy, then it's the best place to be. Surely even you notices the difference between the two.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Ali G.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Hitler in Downfall = <3

[Nagishkaw 510]