By David King
Based on Mossad
agent Peter Malkin’s “Eichmann in my Hands,†the 1996 made-for-TV movie “The
Man Who Captured Eichmann,†directed by William A. Graham, tells the
suspenseful tale of the apprehension of one of the most notorious war criminals
of all time. But the
apprehension is only half the story, and the movie excels in the scenes after
the capture when Malkin (played by Arliss Howard) finds himself face-to-face
with Adolf Eichmann, a man responsible for the atrocities of the Nazi
concentration camps.
The capture of
Eichmann (Robert Duvall, who also executive produced) in Argentina, where he
fled after the war, plays out like an old heist movie: putting together the
team, coming up with a plan and executing it despite several red herrings and
momentary obstacles. The interrogation
scenes, however, where Eichmann and Malkin square off and discuss their very
different views of the Holocaust, produce the movie’s strongest moments. Duvall
masterfully portrays the banality of evil, so much so that Malkin is left
frustrated, confused and saddened in his search for answers. It’s telling then
the movie is titled “The Man Who Captured Eichmann,†instead of “The Capture of
Eichmann.†As an action thriller, it comes up short. As a character study, it’s
much stronger.
Since it’s a TV movie, there aren’t any special features on the
manufactured-to-order Warner Archive DVD release. But as an example of a
higher-quality made-for-TV movies with subtle and nuanced performances by its
leading men, it would make a fine addition to a DVD library.
Click here to order