Man of Straw's primary photo
  • Man of Straw (1951)
  • 109 min | Comedy, Drama
Man of Straw (1951)
109 min | Comedy, Drama

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 ...See moreDiederich 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 See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Heinrich Mann (novel "Der Untertan") | Fritz Staudte | Wolfgang Staudte
Cinematographer
Production Designers
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Aug 31, 1951

Release date
Aug 31, 1951 (East Germany)

Contacts

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Cast

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56 cast members
Name Known for
Werner Peters
Diederich Heßling Diederich Heßling   See fewer
Paul Esser
Regierungspräsident von Wulckow Regierungspräsident von Wulckow   See fewer
Renate Fischer
Guste Daimchen Guste Daimchen   See fewer
Ernst Legal
Pastor Zillich Pastor Zillich   See fewer
Raimund Schelcher
Dr. Wolfgang Buck Dr. Wolfgang Buck   See fewer
Eduard von Winterstein
Buck sen. Buck sen.   See fewer
Friedrich Maurer
Fabrikant Göpel Fabrikant Göpel   See fewer
Sabine Thalbach
Agnes Göpel Agnes Göpel   See fewer
Friedrich Gnaß
Napoleon Fischer Napoleon Fischer   See fewer
Wolfgang Kühne
Dr. Mennicke Dr. Mennicke   See fewer
Fritz Staudte
Amtsgerichtsrat Kühlemann Amtsgerichtsrat Kühlemann   See fewer
Wolfgang Heise
Leutnant von Brietzen Leutnant von Brietzen   See fewer
Axel Triebel
Major Kunze Major Kunze   See fewer
Arthur Schröder
Landgerichtsdirektor Landgerichtsdirektor   See fewer
Paul Mederow
Dr. Heuteufel Dr. Heuteufel   See fewer
Friedrich Richter
Fabrikbesitzer Lauer Fabrikbesitzer Lauer   See fewer
Heinz Keuneke
Gottlieb Hornung Gottlieb Hornung   See fewer
Richard Landeck
Warenhausbesitzer Neumann Warenhausbesitzer Neumann   See fewer
Ernst Wehlau
Sötbier Sötbier   See fewer
Kurt-Otto Fritsch
Junger Arbeiter Junger Arbeiter   See fewer
Blandine Ebinger
Frau von Wulkow Frau von Wulkow   See fewer
Carola Braunbock
Emmi Heßling Emmi Heßling   See fewer
Emmy Burg
Magda Heßling Magda Heßling   See fewer
Gertrud Bergmann
Mutter Heßling Mutter Heßling   See fewer
Erich Nadler
Vater Heßling Vater Heßling   See fewer
Antje Ruge
Jungfrau von Orleans Jungfrau von Orleans   See fewer
Friedel Nowack
Frau Göpel Frau Göpel   See fewer
Viola Recklies
Junge Arbeiterin Junge Arbeiterin   See fewer
Oskar Höcker
Landgerichtsrat Fritzsche Landgerichtsrat Fritzsche   See fewer
Georg August Koch
Geheimer Medizinalrat Geheimer Medizinalrat   See fewer
Günther Ballier
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Fredy Barten
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Maria Besendahl
Frau (uncredited) Frau (uncredited)   See fewer
Egon Brosig
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Elka Haedrich
Frau (uncredited) Frau (uncredited)   See fewer
Hannjo Hasse
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Georg Helge
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Johannes Maus
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Hans Olaf Moser
Actor (uncredited) Actor (uncredited)   See fewer
Edgar Pauly
Actor (uncredited) Actor (uncredited)   See fewer
Peter Peterz
Wiebel (uncredited) Wiebel (uncredited)   See fewer
Günther Polensen
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Martin Rickelt
Actor (uncredited) Actor (uncredited)   See fewer
Harry Riebauer
Actor (uncredited) Actor (uncredited)   See fewer
Hans Rose
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Käthe Scharf
Frau (uncredited) Frau (uncredited)   See fewer
Hilma Schluter
Frau (uncredited) Frau (uncredited)   See fewer
Horst Schönemann
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Steffie Spira
Actress (uncredited) Actress (uncredited)   See fewer
Friedrich Teitge
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Albert Venohr
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Egon Vogel
Actor (uncredited) Actor (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Hans Vogt
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
Bella Waldritter
Frau (uncredited) Frau (uncredited)   See fewer
Gerd Wolfrum
Mann (uncredited) Mann (uncredited)   See fewer
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