The Secret Life Of Adolf Hitler (1958)/The Smashing Of The Reich (1962) On DVD

Produced for American television in 1958, The Secret Life of Hitler uses actual footage shot by the Nazis, as well as Eva's own home movies, first examining Germany's build-up to blitzkrieg before taking the viewer "backstage" to see the paradoxically playful and carefree life lived by Eva and her friends. Oblivious to the rampant violence, suffering and death that consumed much of humanity, they sunbathed by mountain lakes as the rest of the world burned.

The Smashing of the Reich (1962, B&W): Rarely seen military archival footage highlights this fascinating and vivid film that details how the Allied Forces retook Europe from the iron grip of Nazi tyranny. The extended sequence covering the liberation of Paris is especially compelling, packed with a visceral and emotional power. Writer-Director Perry Wolff combines brilliant editing, effective sound effects and an evocative original score to raise this documentary above the highly politicized and propagandist fare that followed World War II.