The Monuments Men: A Film Review

But if you destroy their achievements and their history, then it’s like they never existed. Just ash floating. That’s what Hitler wants and it’s the one thing we simply can’t allow.

– Frank Stokes

The Monuments Men film depicts real life events as men and women across Europe and Asia during World War II had helped save stolen art by the Nazis or protect it from being destroyed even by the Allied Forces. These works of art were paintings, sculptures, sketches,  and including buildings by great artists such as Rembrandt, Rothschild, Picasso, DaVinci, and etc. The prominent stolen art by the Nazis were from Jewish artists who were deemed degenerate, yet Adolf Hitler, down to even Hermann Wilhelm Göring, who prized it and wanted it for their private collection and the Fuhrer Museum. 

I had no idea about the works of the Monuments Men until this film was released in 2014. This film is loosely based on the biographical history of these brave soldiers and citizens who spearheaded the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), written by Robert M. Edsel. The Monuments Film was directed, written, produced by George Clooney. He also starred as Frank Stokes who was based on George Stout, one of the leading men who helped organize and find stolen art. 

The film begins in 1940 with the Ghent Altarpiece being stolen in Belgium from the St. Bavo’s Cathedral by the Nazis. This huge panel or polyptych of paintings were loaded one by one on a truck and interestingly enough, in 1934, one of the panels was still missing when they were stolen and held for ransom. It hasn’t ever been found. This scene depicted how easy it was for  the Nazis to steal this famous painting by Hubert van Eyck and Jan van Eyck. It showed the cunning precision they were willing to get anything they demanded. 

While WWII is entering its fifth year in 1943,  the Allies are in Europe making their way through towards Germany; they also are bombing historical architecture and artworks. These bombings have been noticed by the artworld community and they want to do something about it. Enter Frank Stokes showing President Franklin D. Roosevelt the destruction of such bombings and the significant art pieces being stored or protected such as Michelangelo’s Statue of David being covered by bricks, DaVinci’s Last Supper being covered by sandbags and the devastating slide of the Monte Cassino utterly destroyed. President Roosevelt asks Stokes if he wanted to send men in to tell the soldiers not to bomb buildings. He answered yes, but also to find stolen art that the Nazis were collecting. These works of art were famous but also the works of private collectors, most notably the Jewish community who were deemed by the Nazis as degenerate art. Besides liquidating the Jewish people out of their homes, this allowed them to take what they wanted (sometimes they did pay for items but less than the value of its worth). Stokes gives a compelling speech why it is so important to save art and the impact it has on the world’s culture. People may be gone, but their culture can survive and be passed down to different generations. Roosevelt agreed to allow him to gather artisans of various industries: engineers, architectural designers, painters, sculptists, and etc. to help save the art and protect art. 

Stokes recruits men from various professions Walter Garfield (John Goodman) a sculpturist, painter James Granger (Matt Damon), architect, Richard Campbell (Bill Murray), ballet director Preston Savitz (Bob Balaban), painter, Jean-Claude Clemont (Jean Dujardin) and historian Donald Jeffries (Hugh Bonneville). These men who were considered to be too old, or had other medical issues to be able to get into the U.S. The Army. This was the only way that they were  able to contribute to the war effort by being a Monuments Men.

The Monuments Men were not the only ones who dedicated their lives to protect art. Claire Simone (Cate Blanchett) was a civilian who worked as an overseer at the Jeu de Paume Museum in France. In 1944, the Nazis invaded France and started their collections of art at the Jeu de Paume. The Louvre years earlier had already hidden art away before they were invaded. However, the Jeu de Paume had many of the private collectors that drew the attention of  Herrmann Göring’s (Udo Kroschwald) to collect for himself and Adolf Hitler (James Payton). In order to facilitate such a feat of moving this art, Viktor Stahl (Justus von Dohnányi) became in charge and was in Claire’s eyes, vindictive, dangerous and cunning. Considering that Claire was working there even though she was working for the resistance, the French when liberated considered her as a collaborator and imprisoned her. James Granger, when he was posted to France to find stolen art, started learning from Claire how involved the Nazis were. However, Claire did not trust him. She was afraid that the Americans were going to keep the art like the Soviet Trophy Brigade. The Soviets were keeping the art as a form of repayment since they lost over a million people. 

As the Monuments Men began to splinter off to find possible leads of stolen art, surprises reached them at all fronts. Either they were told by commanding officers they were not going to risk their men’s’ lives for some art, or they were not given enough equipment and supplies to get there. On one of the journeys, Stokes had found Private Sam Epstein (Dimitri Leonidas) driving an abandoned German vehicle. Hope was restored and he had a ride that could get around. It was a bonus for Stokes because Sam spoke German fluently. He was born in Karlsruhe, Germany and always wanted to see a Rembrandt painting that his grandfather said he would have to wait one day to see. Sam moved to the US when he was a teenager and enlisted in the Army as a translator with nothing to do. Stokes made use of his skills and had Epstein listen to a captured German army as they discussed in whispers where the art was hidden.

As the team were in separate directions, their bond was stronger even with tragic moments. They also learned that Hitler created the Nero Decree. If he dies or Germany loses the war, all the art would be destroyed. He wanted it all or no one could have it. It created a desperate and time sensitive search now for these stolen arts as the war was winding down. 

One of the most pivotal and funniest pairs were Campbell and Savitz. I must say you couldn’t put a most disagreeable but intelligent pair together. The smart alec laughs to the banter were made for the ages. They happened to discover a Nazi hiding in plain sight and living as a Farmer. That Nazi Official was Stahl and Stokes was astonished as he was already there before. This led to them going to a copper mine filled with 16,000 pieces of  stolen art. This find started moving the gears for the Monuments Men. One line from a letter that Stokes wrote to Granger that definitely brings a devastating perspective of this war:  “It seems the Nazis took better care of paintings, than they did people.” 

Due to the Nero decree, an official being captured and reading how the Monuments Men were returning art, Claire finally trusted Granger. She entrusted him with her hidden list of all the art she had cataloged and secretly marked. This art was in a Bavarian Castle; this is one of the castles that the Nazis had hidden stolen artworks. Soon the wheels were turning and more works were being found; some were damaged due to the Nero Decree. One of the most famous mines was Merkers where they found not only thousands of art but also gold. Gold bullion bars that were the entire Nazis depository. They were in awe but also made a sobering discovery; gold jewelry, gold teeth taken from Jewish prisoners. The Nazis stopped at nothing short of shredding humanity and dignity to take what should be theirs. This moment led to the Allied Armies to decide hey, we need to help them more, because who knows what else they may find.

Since the Monuments Men had more resources, it became a race to save the arts from the destruction of the Nazis and from the pillaging of the Soviets’ Trophy Brigade. In total the Monuments Men recovered, restored and returned five million pieces of stolen art. This is nothing short of saying that this amount is an exorbitant amount of stolen art and  people’s lives.  The value of these items could be considered priceless yet it has so much more than value. The people who are now gone because they were a different race and considered inferior will never see their heirlooms or riches again. The Monuments Men and the rest of the world have been slowly and painstakingly trying to still return these lost artworks. It has been 78 years since World War II ended and the last real Monuments Man, Richard Baracick has just died recently at 98 years old. However, their legacy lives on and we as a people shouldn’t forget the bravery of these people who fought, died and dedicated their lives to make sure that humanity and culture were still preserved. 

George Clooney did a stellar job at wearing multiple hats in bringing this story to the big screen. I never heard the full story of these men and women. True that Clooney did change the names of the characters, and some slight events were changed, but the gist of the movie was telling the story of the real life people who gave their lives to protect art.  Clooney’s directing style seemed to give a sense of urgency, wit, humorous, courageous moments and a profound human element in connection through the arts. 

The cast representing each historical figure were spot on. I have seen several of the cast members such as Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, John Goodman and George Clooney star in biographical films. So seeing them altogether in a World War II era film is refreshing. They along with the other cast mates provided laughs, sorrow, deep connections to the screen. By exhibiting these characteristics, they were able to bring the people they were loosely based on back to life. 

I will be writing a companion review about the book written by Robert M. Edsel in the near future. Of course, like all my reviews, I will be going into more detail and providing more resources for your leisure. 

If you want to discover more interesting facts about these brave men and women who fought to preserve historical culture and arts, then you should check out the Monuments Men official website. The Smithsonian Magazine wrote a lengthy article about the film, the history behind the film and the impact that it still has today.  You will find a thorough and compelling narrative which will open your eyes to just how far Hitler wanted it all.

Enjoy this enriching, entertaining and educating video provided by The Met as they explain the film and the history of the Monuments Men. Robert M. Edsel and Matt Damon were interviewed by the Institute of Politics and they discussed filming this movie, along with all the historical tidbits one can enjoy. Matt made it a point of discussing was a life worth saving all this art? You can enjoy this video The Monuments Men: Rescuing Art from the Nazis on YouTube.

If you wish to delve more into the history and read the book for yourself how these men and women did the impossible, then buy it from Bookshop.org today!

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, whereas I may make a small commission if you purchase a product at no extra cost to you. Please read the full privacy policy*