The Boys from Brazil poster

1978·125 min·Released

The Boys from Brazil

“If they survive… will we?”

Drama
Mystery
Science Fiction

Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman discovers a sinister and bizarre plot, masterminded by Dr. Josef Mengele, to rekindle the Third Reich.

6.7(448 votes)

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Cast & Crew

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck

Dr. Josef Mengele

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Ezra Lieberman

James Mason

James Mason

Eduard Seibert

Lilli Palmer

Lilli Palmer

Esther Lieberman

Uta Hagen

Uta Hagen

Frieda Maloney

Steve Guttenberg

Steve Guttenberg

Barry Kohler

Denholm Elliott

Denholm Elliott

Sidney Beynon

Rosemary Harris

Rosemary Harris

Mrs. Doring

John Dehner

John Dehner

Henry Wheelock

John Rubinstein

John Rubinstein

David Bennett

Anne Meara

Anne Meara

Mrs. Curry

Jeremy Black

Jeremy Black

Jack Curry / Simon Harrington / Erich Doring / Bobby Wheelock

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CinemaSerf

Written on 6/4/2023

I recall the first time I saw this - aged ten, or so, and been terrified by the ending... Laurence Olivier is "Lieberman", a Nazi hunter who is given some detailed information from a very young Steve Guttenburg ("Kohler") that his long sought nemesis Dr. Josef Mengele (Gregory Peck) is thriving in Paraguay - and that he has an intriguing ongoing scheme that could reignite the whole Nazi movement. What ensues involves Oliver travelling to South America where he must thwart this deadly plan. Neither actor are at the top of their game, indeed for many of Olivier's scenes I half expected Neil Diamond to emerge singing "Love on the Rocks" (even if we are 18 months too early). There is certainly something menacing about the whole thing, though - the concept of human closing and the manipulation of a person's evolution is scarily depicted as the scenarios build well to my aforementioned denouement that even now, I find suitably effective. James Mason has a bit part as the Nazi henchman "Siebert", and Lilli Palmer is quite good as Olivier's daughter ("Esther") and they add a little depth to this over-long, but decently paced mystery. Oddly enough, the questions it asks have more potency 40 years after it was made, and you can't help but wonder just how conceivable this whole thing might actually be...

Wuchak

Written on 4/19/2025

**_Imaginative conspiracy thriller involving escaped German war criminals_** A discredited Nazi-hunter in Vienna (Laurence Olivier) slowly learns of a plot to resurrect the Third Reich spearheaded by a mad geneticist, who’s conducting experiments in remote Paraguay (Gregory Peck). James Mason is also on hand as a colonel in the latter’s service. “The Boys from Brazil” (1978) was based on the book by Ira Levin, who’s known for “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Stepford Wives.” It was helmed by the director of “Planet of the Apes,” “Patton” and “Papillon.” You could say it’s cut from the same cloth as “The Odessa File” and “Marathon Man,” just mixed with the weird horror elements for which Levin was known. Beyond the high caliber cast, the creativity of the script is a highlight (the less you know, the better), along with the great locations and entertaining bits spiced throughout, sometimes reflecting a (welcome) sense of humor or hamminess. A couple of examples include the superb dam sequence and Josef’s unexpected fit at the Nazi celebration, not to mention playful Mrs. Doring and the amusing blonde mother. It runs 2 hours, 4 minutes, and was shot primarily in Portugal with additional filming in London, Vienna, Austria (the dam sequence) and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. GRADE: A-/B+

Media

Vintage Trailer

Vintage Trailer

NBC Sunday Movies The Boys from Brazil 1982 bumper

NBC Sunday Movies The Boys from Brazil 1982 bumper