The Kaiser's Lackey

Overview

Diederich Heßling is scared of everything and everyone. But as he grows up, he comes to realize that he has to offer his services to the powers-that-be if he wants to wield power himself. His life motto now runs: bow to those at the top and tread on those below. In this way, he always succeeds: as a student in a duel-fighting student fraternity and as a businessman in a paper factory. He cajoles the obese district administrative president Von Wulkow and wins his favor. He slanders his financial rivals and hatches a plot with the social democrats in the town council. On his honeymoon with his rich wife Guste, he finally finds a chance to do his beloved Kaiser a favor. And when a memorial to the Kaiser is unveiled in the town where Diederich lives and works, he delivers the address. He stands behind the lectern in the pouring rain, saluting his Kaiser. The crowd is dispersed. Everything is laid in ruins...

Trailer

Play trailer: Der Untertan - DEFA-Trailer

Official video hosted on YouTube. The player loads only when you press play.

Cast and crew

• 

  Werner PetersDiederich Heßling

• 

  Paul EsserRegierungspräsident von Wulckow

• 

  Blandine EbingerFrau von Wulckow

• R

  Renate FischerGuste Daimchen

• 

  Carola BraunbockEmmi Heßling

• E

  Emmy BurgMagda Heßling

• 

  Sabine ThalbachAgnes Göppel

• 

  Friedel NowackMrs. Göpel

• 

  Friedrich MaurerGöpel

• 

  Erich NadlerFather Heßling

• G

  Gertrud BergmannMother Heßling

• 

  Ernst LegalZillich

• 

  Raimund SchelcherDr. Wolfgang Buck

• E

  Eduard von WintersteinBuck sen.

• 

  Hannsgeorg LaubenthalMahlmann

• 

  Friedrich GnaßNapoleon Fischer

• W

  Wolfgang KühneDr. Mennicke

• F

  Fritz StaudteKühlemann

Director

Wolfgang Staudte

Writer

Fritz Staudte, Wolfgang Staudte and Heinrich Mann

Music

Horst Hans Sieber

Cinematography

Robert Baberske