Der Untertan (1951)

Der Untertan 1951 Diederich Heling 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