Developed Treatment

Synopsis:

When you think of Liverpool, you think of The Beatles, The Cavern, Anfield and the ferry across the Mersey. But what if I told you, that Adolf Hitler took that ferry, cheered for Liverpool on the terraces and had a pint listening to the music of the day. Sounds like a Monty Python sketch? Well we believe it’s true! But to tell this story, we’ve got to take a time ride back to before the start of the First World War in November 1912, when Adolf visited his half brother, at a flat in Toxteth.

For decades there’s been a suggestion that a 23 year old Adolf Hitler lived in Liverpool for 6 months, between November 1912 and April 1913. And after extensive research speaking to respected historians, authors and journalists, our production team will launch a documentary investigation in attempt to uncover whether Adolf Hitler once walked the streets of Liverpool.

Interviewees:

Michael Unger - (Former Editor of the Liverpool Echo and Liverpool Daily Post, More importantly the Author of the book ‘The Hitler’s of Liverpool’ and he Illustrated Bridgett Hitler’s memoirs)
- Walking Interview outside 102 Upper Stanhope Street, Liverpool Lime Street, and the Liverpool’s Dock.

Mike Royden– (Liverpudlian Historian)
-Argue for the story, that Adolf did live in Liverpool in 1912.

Professor Frank McDonough – (Author, Historian specialising in Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich)
-Argue against the story that Adolf did not live in Liverpool.

Stan Boardman – (Liverpudlian Comedian popular in the 1970s. Famous for his German jokes: The ‘Fokker’ joke and his World Cup song “The Germans Bombed Our Chippy”).
-Add comic value to the documentary. Liverpudlians love a tall tale. Interesting to listen to his comments and feelings about Hitler supposedly living amongst them in 1912 then going on to bomb Liverpool along with Stan Boardman’s families chip shop.

Stephen Duggan and Elderly regulars at the pub – (Stephen is the Landlord at the Poste House Pub on Cumberland Street where it is claimed that Adolf Hitler drank beer at) –

Aim

Explain why the claims have been made, exploring both sides of the debate as evenly as possible presenting the topic openly to the information we obtain. Create a natural response in the audience that, depending on our findings, will be predominately unbiased.

Inspiration

Intimate interviews through Camerawork – Impressed by the low key lighting and effective combination of static mid shots and panning close ups during the interviews seen in the documentary “Band Of Brothers” we intend to attempt to create a similar tone to our interviews.

Emotionally engaging with integrity through diverse sources - The stylish yet incredibly intricate presentation of information in Nick Broomfields: “Biggie and Tupac”, could be influential in creating a sense of mystery throughout our work.

Execution

With help from various research, a diverse number of sources and interviewees, the documentary will form as an informative yet artistic and emotionally aware piece. Already with massively intriguing content, we would like to enhance the viewers experience by approaching the production of the film in a acutely stylistic manner. This would be in order to create an entertaining and seductive build of curiosity through aesthetically pleasing use of cinematography and editing, All of this would hopefully provide an emotional attachment for the audience, to draw their focus not only to the curiosity and bewildering uncertainty that surrounds the topic, but to that of the element of folklore and myth upon which some Liverpudlian tales seem to thrive. We would like it to express a sense of skill within our filmmaking, to show not only the contents interest, but also the value we place as filmmakers in making a film about it.