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. ...
See full summary »
Before "The Office," star Rainn Wilson had a different type of workplace comedy in mind. Presented by "Star Trek: Discovery."
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Der Untertan (1951)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
The Rabbit Is Me
(1965)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Kurt Maetzig
Stars:
Angelika Waller,
Alfred Müller,
Ilse Voigt
Murderers Among Us
(1946)
Drama
|
Romance
|
Thriller
Director:
Wolfgang Staudte
Stars:
Hildegard Knef,
Elly Burgmer,
Erna Sellmer
Unter den Brücken
(1946)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Helmut Käutner
Stars:
Hannelore Schroth,
Carl Raddatz,
Gustav Knuth
The Hunt
(1966)
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
Carlos Saura
Stars:
Ismael Merlo,
Alfredo Mayo,
José María Prada
10 Rillington Place
(1971)
Certificate: GP
Biography
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Richard Fleischer
Stars:
Richard Attenborough,
Judy Geeson,
John Hurt
Große Freiheit Nr. 7
(1944)
Drama
|
Musical
|
Romance
Director:
Helmut Käutner
Stars:
Hans Albers,
Ilse Werner,
Hans Söhnker
Ich war neunzehn
(1968)
Biography
|
Drama
|
War
Director:
Konrad Wolf
Stars:
Jaecki Schwarz,
Vasiliy Livanov,
Aleksey Eybozhenko
Yvy Maraey
(2013)
Drama
Director:
Juan Carlos Valdivia
Stars:
Juan Carlos Valdivia,
Elio Ortíz,
Felipe Román
Un air de famille
(1996)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Cédric Klapisch
Stars:
Jean-Pierre Bacri,
Jean-Pierre Darroussin,
Catherine Frot
Roses for the Prosecutor
(1959)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Wolfgang Staudte
Stars:
Martin Held,
Walter Giller,
Ingrid van Bergen
Das kalte Herz
(2016)
Drama
|
Fantasy
Director:
Johannes Naber
Stars:
Frederick Lau,
Henriette Confurius,
David Schütter
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Werner Peters | ... | Diederich Heßling | |
| Paul Esser | ... | Regierungspräsident von Wulckow | |
 |
Renate Fischer | ... | Guste Daimchen |
|
|
Ernst Legal | ... | Pastor Zillich |
|
|
Raimund Schelcher | ... | Dr. Wolfgang Buck |
|
|
Eduard von Winterstein | ... | Buck sen. |
|
|
Friedrich Maurer | ... | Fabrikant Göpel |
| Sabine Thalbach | ... | Agnes Göpel | |
|
|
Hannsgeorg Laubenthal | ... | Mahlmann |
|
|
Friedrich Gnaß | ... | Napoleon Fischer |
|
|
Wolfgang Kühne | ... | Dr. Mennicke |
|
|
Fritz Staudte | ... | Amtsgerichtsrat Kühlemann |
|
|
Wolfgang Heise | ... | Leutnant von Brietzen |
|
|
Axel Triebel | ... | Major Kunze |
| Arthur Schröder | ... | Landgerichtsdirektor | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (12) »
Storyline
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... Written by Anonymous
Plot Keywords:
industrialist | bourgeoisie | imperial germany | controversy | arrogance |Certificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
East GermanyLanguage:
GermanRelease Date:
31 August 1951 (East Germany) See more »Also Known As:
The Underdog See more »Filming Locations:
DEFA-Atelier, Babelsburg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, GermanyCompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (cut)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
Edit
Did You Know?
Alternate Versions
The film was banned in West Germany from 1951-1956. In 1956 a censored version was released. The film was shown uncut for the first time in 1971 on TV. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Watch Hollywood hits and TV favorites for free with IMDb Freedive. Start streaming on IMDb and Fire TV devices today!
Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.
This is a must see movie. Werner Peters and all the other cast members deliver superb performances. It has got an ensemble of top german character actors playing together on the same high level as we are used to get from the best of Preston Sturges' movies.
The photography of Robert Baberske is a sheer delight, both lighting and framing are masterly done.
If you have enjoyed Fritz Lang's "M" than you certainly will enjoy this one. The appeal of the story and characters may a bit more specific german, but the moral and "message" is timeless and is true to all western societies.
Comedic film jewels like this are not made anymore - this makes it even less understandable that there is no DVD version around yet. (I know for certain that a top notch flawless negative for a digital transfer exists !!!)