The Kaiser's Lackey

The Kaiser's Lackey

1951 · 109 min · ★ 6.7 · Drama, History, Comedy

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...

Directed by Wolfgang Staudte · Written by Fritz Staudte

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Cast

Werner Peters Diederich Heßling
Paul Esser Regierungspräsident von Wulckow
Blandine Ebinger Frau von Wulckow
Renate Fischer Guste Daimchen
Carola Braunbock Emmi Heßling
Emmy Burg Magda Heßling
Sabine Thalbach Agnes Göppel
Friedel Nowack Mrs. Göpel
Friedrich Maurer Göpel
Erich Nadler Father Heßling
Gertrud Bergmann Mother Heßling
Ernst Legal Zillich

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