The Damned (1969)
"La caduta degli dei (Götterdämmerung)" (original title)

The dramatic collapse of a wealthy, industrialist/Junker family during the reign of the Third Reich.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Nicola Badalucco (story), Enrico Medioli (story),

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Ingrid Thulin, Helmut Griem

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde	...	Frederick Bruckmann
Ingrid Thulin	...	Sophie Von Essenbeck
Helmut Griem	...	Aschenbach
Helmut Berger	...	Martin Von Essenbeck
Renaud Verley	...	Gunther Von Essenbeck
Umberto Orsini	...	Herbert Thallman
Reinhard Kolldehoff	...	Konstantin Von Essenbeck (as René Koldehoff)
Albrecht Schoenhals	...	Joachim Von Essenbeck (as Albrecht Schönhals)
Florinda Bolkan	...	Olga
Nora Ricci	...	Governess
Charlotte Rampling	...	Elisabeth Thallman
Irina Wanka	...	Lisa
Karin Mittendorf	...	Thilde Thallman
Valentina Ricci	...	Erika Thalman
Wolfgang Hillinger	...	Janek

Storyline

The power and fortune of the Von Essenbeck family remained intact even when Germany lost the great war and during the depression that followed. Now it's 1934 and the baron has summoned his family to a dinner that also brings a cousin rising in the Nazi party to the great house accompanied by a rising manager at the baron's company. Two little girls recite poetry in the parlor and then play hide-and-seek with their cousin Martin. Suddenly there is a scream. The baron has been shot with their father's gun and the father flees the country.

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Plot Keywords:

baron | german | nazi | germany | third reich | 

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Taglines:

He was to become the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, nudity and aberrant sexuality

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

Italian German

Release Date:

18 December 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Luchino Visconti's The Damned

Filming Locations:

Attersee, Upper Austria, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ital-Noleggio Cinematografico, Praesidens, Pegaso Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

156 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first X-rated film to be shown on American network television, although heavily edited and in a late-night time slot.

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Goofs

Throughout the film, SS-Captain Aschenbach is referred to as a "Hauptsturmfuhrer". However, prior to 1934 (when the film is set) the SS referred to the rank of Captain as "Sturmhauptfuhrer".

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Quotes

Sophie Von Essenbeck: It's not a joke. Enormous interests are at stake, and Martin thinks...
Konstantin Von Essenbeck: As far as I know, it's the first time Martin ever used his head to think!

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Connections

Referenced in Cabaret (1972)

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Soundtracks

"Nachts ging das Telefon"
(uncredited)
Music by Walter Kollo
Performed by Zarah Leander

User Reviews

Visconti masterpiece

This really is Luchino Visconti's magnum opus - The Damned is an utterly engrossing work of art that grabs you from the start and doesn't relinquish its grip until the final frames. The accents from the international cast takes a little getting used to - the soundtrack is in English (some sync sound, some dubbed) and Dirk Bogarde's refined English accent doesn't really suit the part of a German industrialist at first but once you get used to these incongruities the cast seems perfect! The cinematography is beautiful, capturing the decaying elegance perfectly. The score by Maurice Jarre adds to the atmosphere nicely even if it is a little reminiscent of Dr Zhivago. The film's themes are quite challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to watch but it's always compelling and absorbing even at 2 hours 35 minutes.