In this documentary by Joachim Fest, the rise and transformation of Adolf Hitler is examined in great detail. Video clips from the period give an unflinching view into the leader's uncanny powers of persuasion and show the overall state of mind of the German people, who were desperate for a new public identity. This film especially examines Hitler's early years in the public eye, and it details the long journey he made from being a mediocre artist to one of history's most hated monsters.