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The Devil's General

Original title: Des Teufels General
  • 1955
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Viktor de Kowa, Karl John, Curd Jürgens, Marianne Koch, and Helmut Käutner in The Devil's General (1955)
DramaWar

During WW2, German general Harry Harras is a test pilot and chief engineer for the Luftwaffe but his contempt for the Nazis and sabotage at the aircraft plant land him in hot water with the ... Read allDuring WW2, German general Harry Harras is a test pilot and chief engineer for the Luftwaffe but his contempt for the Nazis and sabotage at the aircraft plant land him in hot water with the Gestapo.During WW2, German general Harry Harras is a test pilot and chief engineer for the Luftwaffe but his contempt for the Nazis and sabotage at the aircraft plant land him in hot water with the Gestapo.

  • Director
    • Helmut Käutner
  • Writers
    • Carl Zuckmayer
    • Georg Hurdalek
    • Helmut Käutner
  • Stars
    • Curd Jürgens
    • Viktor de Kowa
    • Karl John
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Helmut Käutner
    • Writers
      • Carl Zuckmayer
      • Georg Hurdalek
      • Helmut Käutner
    • Stars
      • Curd Jürgens
      • Viktor de Kowa
      • Karl John
    • 11User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos17

    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)
    The Devil's General (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Curd Jürgens
    Curd Jürgens
    • General Harry Harras
    Viktor de Kowa
    Viktor de Kowa
    • SS-Gruppenführer Schmidt-Lausitz
    Karl John
    Karl John
    • Ingenieur Karl Oderbruch
    Marianne Koch
    Marianne Koch
    • Dorothea 'Diddo' Geiss
    Eva Ingeborg Scholz
    Eva Ingeborg Scholz
    • Waltraut 'Pützchen' Mohrungen
    • (as Eva-Ingeborg Scholz)
    Camilla Spira
    Camilla Spira
    • Kammersängerin Olivia Geiss
    Erica Balqué
    • Anne Eilers
    Albert Lieven
    Albert Lieven
    • Oberst Friedrich Eilers
    Paul Westermeier
    Paul Westermeier
    • Otto Korrianke, Fahrer von Harras
    Karl Ludwig Diehl
    Karl Ludwig Diehl
    • Generaldirektor Hugo Mohrungen
    • (as Carl Ludwig Diehl)
    Harry Meyen
    Harry Meyen
    • Leutnant Hartmann
    Bum Krüger
    • Hauptmann Lüttjohann
    Beppo Brem
    Beppo Brem
    • Hauptmann Pfundtmayer
    Werner Fuetterer
    Werner Fuetterer
    • Baron von Pflunck
    Robert Meyn
    • Generalleutnant von Stetten
    Joseph Offenbach
    • Kriminalrat Zernick
    • (as Josef Offenbach)
    Wolfrid Lier
    Wolfrid Lier
    • Kellner Detlev
    • (as Wolfried Lier)
    Reinhold Nietschmann
    • Geschäftsführer Otto
    • Director
      • Helmut Käutner
    • Writers
      • Carl Zuckmayer
      • Georg Hurdalek
      • Helmut Käutner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The main character, Gen. Harras, is based on World War I hero Ernst Udet.
    • Connections
      Version of Des Teufels General (1997)

    User reviews11

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A leading general in the German air force at the peak of the German success of the war put to ultimate trial of conscience and responsibility
    This has been called the best German film ever made, and that might very well be the case. The play is Carl Zuckmayer's, but the film is a masterpiece in itself and offers a different aspect on this major dilemma of conscience among leading officers in Nazi Germany at the crucial time of the German invasion of Russia and the American involvement in the war - Germany was the one who declared war on the US. Above all the direction (by Helmut Käutner) brings the film on a universal level in its intensity and deep empathy with many besides the general, especially some of the women, and this drama could and should engage anyone, since it highlights the eternal problem of a human standing in relation with politics, political necessity and political pressure. One man in this film spites the system and does what he does because he feels ashamed of being a German because of what Germany is doing to the world, and that brings the drama to critical extremes with inevitable consequences, and generel Harras is perfectly logic in his ensuing action.

    In spite of lack of action and dramatic effects, the film is invaluable for its sustained human drama involving many relationships and persons with highly engaging and pregnant dialogue all the way, presented by brilliant acting, so this is a film never to forget and always keep at hand for immediate access and reference.
    helpful•5
    0
    • clanciai
    • Apr 22, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 23, 1955 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Des Teufels General
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production company
      • Real-Film GmbH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Klangfilm-Stereocord
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Viktor de Kowa, Karl John, Curd Jürgens, Marianne Koch, and Helmut Käutner in The Devil's General (1955)
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