Der Untertan (1951)
56KDer Untertan: Directed by Wolfgang Staudte. With Werner Peters, Paul Esser, Renate Fischer, Ernst Legal. 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…
“The King is one of my favourite films from last year and I love this movie. The score is fantastic. I like the theme behind this film as well which is be careful who you surround yourself with and in this case, King Henry became like his father, he didnu0026#39;t intend to be like him but due to personal agendas and glory from members in his court, he was deceived into being a reflection of his father. The dialogue was superb and itu0026#39;s beautifully shot. Canu0026#39;t recommend it enough.”
