Is Inglourious Basterds Based on a True Story? Cast, Plot, Where to Watch and More
by Kavitha
Updated Nov 29, 2023
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds a 2009 war film directed by Quentin Tarantino, featuring an ensemble cast including Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Michael Fassbender. Set in an alternate history during World War II, the movie follows two plots to assassinate Nazi leaders. Shosanna Dreyfus, a French Jewish cinema owner, and a team of Jewish American soldiers led by Lt. Aldo Raine play central roles.
Christoph Waltz delivers a standout performance as SS Colonel Hans Landa, tasked with pursuing Raine's group. The film's title is inspired by a 1978 film, but Tarantino's work is not a remake. With a $70 million budget, production took place in Germany and France.
Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009, the movie later saw a wide release in the United States and Europe in August. Inglourious Basterds grossed over $321.5 million globally, marking Tarantino's highest-grossing film at the time.
Despite some criticism for historical liberties, the film received positive reviews, earning eight Academy Award nominations. Christoph Waltz won numerous accolades, including the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The movie's success solidified Tarantino's reputation for blending history with his unique storytelling style.
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Is Inglourious Basterds Based on a True Story?
No, Inglourious Basterds is not based on a true story. While the movie incorporates elements from World War II, such as the existence of military units with Jewish soldiers focused on intelligence gathering, the main storyline, characters, and the fictional assassination of Adolf Hitler are products of Quentin Tarantino's imagination. The character Hans Landa, portrayed by Christoph Waltz, is entirely fictional and serves to embody various Nazi concepts and motivations.
The real-life inspiration for the film's Basterds can be found in units like X-Troop, a secretive British unit organized by Winston Churchill, and an American counterpart that operated behind German lines. However, these units were focused on intelligence gathering rather than the violent and dramatic assassination plot depicted in the movie.
While there were numerous attempts to assassinate Hitler during World War II, none succeeded, and the details of his death are well-documented. Tarantino's use of historical events in Inglourious Basterds is an example of historical revisionism, where he takes creative liberties with real events to craft an entertaining and alternative narrative. This approach has become a trademark of Tarantino's filmmaking style, where he uses history as a backdrop to tell unique and often fantastical stories.
Inglourious Basterds Cast
Here's a tabular representation of the main cast of Inglourious Basterds:
Brad Pitt
Lieutenant Aldo Raine
Mélanie Laurent
Shosanna Dreyfus
Christoph Waltz
Hans Landa
Eli Roth
Sergeant Donny Donowitz
Michael Fassbender
Lieutenant Archie Hicox
Diane Kruger
Bridget Von Hammersmark
Daniel Brühl
Fredrick Zoller
Til Schweiger
Sergeant Hugo Stiglitz
B. J. Novak
Smithson Utivich
Gedeon Burkhard
Corporal Wilhelm Wicki
Jacky Ido
Marcel
Omar Doom
Omar Ulmer
Samm Levine
Hirschberg
August Diehl
Sturmbannführer Dieter Hellstrom
Denis Ménochet
Perrier LaPadite
Sylvester Groth
Joseph Goebbels
Martin Wuttke
Adolf Hitler
Mike Myers
General Ed Fenech
Julie Dreyfus
Francesca Mondino
Richard Sammel
Sergeant Rachtman
Alexander Fehling
Master Sergeant Wilhelm
Rod Taylor
Winston Churchill
Actor
Character
Inglourious Basterds Plot
"In Inglourious Basterds, the story starts in 1941 when a German officer named Hans Landa questions a French farmer, suspecting that he's hiding a Jewish family. The farmer, to save his own family, reveals the hidden family, and they are tragically shot. However, a young woman named Shosanna manages to escape.
Three years later, Lieutenant Aldo Raine forms a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as the Basterds. They terrorize Nazis in France by killing and scalping them. Meanwhile, Shosanna, now operating a cinema, becomes involved in a plan to assassinate top Nazi leaders during the premiere of a propaganda film.
The Basterds, along with British Lieutenant Hicox and German Sergeant Stiglitz, plan an attack at the film premiere. However, their cover is blown, leading to a deadly shootout. Despite setbacks, they learn that Hitler will attend the premiere.
As the film screening unfolds, chaos erupts. Shosanna sets her cinema on fire, killing the Nazi leaders, including Hitler. The surviving Basterds strike a deal with the cunning Hans Landa, but not before a final act of revenge involving a swastika carved into Landa's forehead.
The movie blends intense action, suspense, and moments of dark humor, creating an alternate history with a satisfying and fiery conclusion."
Inglourious Basterds Where to Watch?
You can currently watch Inglourious Basterds on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription or for free with ads on Tubi TV. Additionally, the movie is available for rent on various platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, DIRECTV, and Spectrum On Demand.
If you prefer to own a digital copy, you can also download it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Microsoft Store. Choose your preferred platform to enjoy Quentin Tarantino's World War II epic with its intriguing alternate history storyline.
Inglourious Basterds Trailer
Is Inglourious Basterds Based on a True Story? - FAQ
No, the film is a work of fiction, blending World War II elements with Quentin Tarantino's imaginative storytelling.
Brad Pitt portrays Lieutenant Aldo Raine, the battle-hardened leader of the Basterds.
The film follows two plots to assassinate Nazi leaders during World War II—one led by Shosanna Dreyfus and the other by a team of Jewish American soldiers.
The movie is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi TV. It can also be rented on various platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Video, and more.
No, Hans Landa is a fictional character created by Quentin Tarantino, played by Christoph Waltz, and represents various Nazi concepts in the film.