The Kaiser's Lackey (1951)
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...
Director:
Wolfgang Staudte
Writers:
Wolfgang Staudte, Fritz Staudte.
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Werner Peters as Diederich Heßling |
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Paul Esser as Regierungspräsident von Wulckow |
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Blandine Ebinger as Frau von Wulckow |
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Renate Fischer as Guste Daimchen |
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Carola Braunbock as Emmi Heßling |
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Emmy Burg as Magda Heßling |
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Sabine Thalbach as Agnes Göppel |
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Friedel Nowack as Mrs. Göpel |
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Friedrich Maurer as Göpel |
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Erich Nadler as Father Heßling |
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Gertrud Bergmann as Mother Heßling |
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Ernst Legal as Zillich |
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Raimund Schelcher as Dr. Wolfgang Buck |
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Eduard von Winterstein as Buck sen. |
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Hannsgeorg Laubenthal as Mahlmann |
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Friedrich Gnaß as Napoleon Fischer |
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Wolfgang Kühne as Dr. Mennicke |
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Fritz Staudte as Kühlemann |
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Wolfgang Heise as von Brietzen |
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Axel Triebel as Major Kunze |
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Arthur Schröder as Landgerichtsdirektor |
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Paul Mederow as Dr. Heuteufel |
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Friedrich Richter as Lauer |
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Heinz Keuneke as Gottlieb Hornung |
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Ernst Wehlau as Sötbier |
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Antje Ruge as Virgin of Orleans |
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Kurt-Otto Fritsch as Young Worker |
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Viola Recklies as Young Worker |
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Oskar Höcker as Fritzsche |
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Georg August Koch as Medizinalrat |
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Martin Rickelt as |
| Directing | Wolfgang Staudte | Director |
| Writing | Wolfgang Staudte | Screenplay |
| Writing | Fritz Staudte | Screenplay |
| Writing | Heinrich Mann | Novel |
| Editing | Johanna Rosinski | Editor |
| Sound | Horst Hans Sieber | Music |
| Camera | Robert Baberske | Director of Photography |
