Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Der Untertan

  • 1951
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
952
YOUR RATING
Werner Peters in Der Untertan (1951)
SatireComedyDrama

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. Hi... Read allDiederich 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 a... Read allDiederich 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... Read all

  • Director
    • Wolfgang Staudte
  • Writers
    • Heinrich Mann
    • Fritz Staudte
    • Wolfgang Staudte
  • Stars
    • Werner Peters
    • Paul Esser
    • Renate Fischer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    952
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wolfgang Staudte
    • Writers
      • Heinrich Mann
      • Fritz Staudte
      • Wolfgang Staudte
    • Stars
      • Werner Peters
      • Paul Esser
      • Renate Fischer
    • 9User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos9

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast56

    Edit
    Werner Peters
    Werner Peters
    • Diederich Heßling
    Paul Esser
    Paul Esser
    • Regierungspräsident von Wulckow
    Renate Fischer
    • Guste Daimchen
    Ernst Legal
    • Pastor Zillich
    Raimund Schelcher
    • Dr. Wolfgang Buck
    Eduard von Winterstein
    Eduard von Winterstein
    • Buck sen.
    Friedrich Maurer
    • Fabrikant Göpel
    Sabine Thalbach
    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
    Axel Triebel
    • Major Kunze
    Arthur Schröder
    Arthur Schröder
    • Landgerichtsdirektor
    Paul Mederow
    • Dr. Heuteufel
    Friedrich Richter
    • Fabrikbesitzer Lauer
    Heinz Keuneke
    • Gottlieb Hornung
    • Director
      • Wolfgang Staudte
    • Writers
      • Heinrich Mann
      • Fritz Staudte
      • Wolfgang Staudte
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Magnum, P.I.
    7.5
    Magnum, P.I.
    Roses for the Prosecutor
    7.3
    Roses for the Prosecutor
    Aguirre, the Wrath of God
    7.8
    Aguirre, the Wrath of God
    I Was Nineteen
    7.5
    I Was Nineteen
    Anton the Magician
    6.6
    Anton the Magician
    Berlin - Ecke Schönhauser
    6.5
    Berlin - Ecke Schönhauser
    Der Untergang der Pamir
    6.2
    Der Untergang der Pamir
    Black Gravel
    7.4
    Black Gravel
    Rotation
    7.4
    Rotation
    The Magic Mountain
    6.4
    The Magic Mountain
    Under the Bridges
    7.5
    Under the Bridges
    The Captain from Köpenick
    7.2
    The Captain from Köpenick

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Debut of actress Sabine Thalbach .
    • 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.

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10

    As great as Fritz Lang's "M"

    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 !!!)
    • mingus_x
    • Oct 18, 2003
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 31, 1951 (East Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • East Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Underdog
    • Filming locations
      • DEFA-Atelier, Babelsburg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
    • Production company
      • Deutsche Film (DEFA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Werner Peters in Der Untertan (1951)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Der Untertan (1951)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.