The Great King (Der große König)
Russian title: Великий Король
Original title: Der große König
Original title: Der große König
History drama – Germany
Production year: 1942
Movie length: 118 minutes
Production year: 1942
Movie length: 118 minutes
Director: Veit Harlan
Writer: Veit Harlan, Gerhard Menzel, Hans Rehberg
Cinematograph: Bruno Mondi
Music: Hans-Otto Borgmann
Writer: Veit Harlan, Gerhard Menzel, Hans Rehberg
Cinematograph: Bruno Mondi
Music: Hans-Otto Borgmann
Movie description:
ëDer Große Königë (ëThe Great Kingë) was a Nazi propaganda film which won the 1942 Coppa Mussolini prize as the best foreign film released in Italy that year. One assumes that Mussolini’s film critics were not completely objective. And yet this movie has excellent production values and a gripping story which (despite its too-long running time) still make it an appealing film for those of us who aren’t Nazis.
This film recounts the travails of Prussian king Friedrich the Second during the battle of Kunersdorf, when his army were decimated by the Austrian forces. Just when defeat seemed certain, Russia’s czar Peter the Great sent reinforcements.
When this movie was made, the early victories of Hitler’s army were long past ... and it was now starting to look as if Germany might lose the war after all. ’The Great King’ was clearly made to inspire German audiences to continue the struggle against overwhelming odds. Despite its odious Nazi agenda, this film is still eminently watchable. The battle scenes are impressive, and Otto Gebühr gives a fine performance in the lead role as Friedrich. There’s also a splendid turn by Paul Wegener as the leader of the Russian forces. Wegener was a stiff and very mannered actor, but he manages to turn those traits to his advantage here.
Gustav Fröhlich, who is best known for playing the idealistic youth in ëMetropolisë, gives a fine earnest performance here as Sergeant Treskow, who violates orders to give a crucial command to his men ... with disastrous results. The propaganda message here is that good Germans shouldn’t take the initiative and think for themselves: instead, they should follow the orders of their wise leaders who know what’s best for them.
Even though this movie is Nazi agitprop, the Third Reich imagery isn’t crammed down our throats here the way it is in ëTriumph of the Willë. You can enjoy this movie without feeling any urge to goose-step. But the story could have been told more effectively in a shorter running time. I’ll rate ëDer Große Königë 6 points out of 10.
This film recounts the travails of Prussian king Friedrich the Second during the battle of Kunersdorf, when his army were decimated by the Austrian forces. Just when defeat seemed certain, Russia’s czar Peter the Great sent reinforcements.
When this movie was made, the early victories of Hitler’s army were long past ... and it was now starting to look as if Germany might lose the war after all. ’The Great King’ was clearly made to inspire German audiences to continue the struggle against overwhelming odds. Despite its odious Nazi agenda, this film is still eminently watchable. The battle scenes are impressive, and Otto Gebühr gives a fine performance in the lead role as Friedrich. There’s also a splendid turn by Paul Wegener as the leader of the Russian forces. Wegener was a stiff and very mannered actor, but he manages to turn those traits to his advantage here.
Gustav Fröhlich, who is best known for playing the idealistic youth in ëMetropolisë, gives a fine earnest performance here as Sergeant Treskow, who violates orders to give a crucial command to his men ... with disastrous results. The propaganda message here is that good Germans shouldn’t take the initiative and think for themselves: instead, they should follow the orders of their wise leaders who know what’s best for them.
Even though this movie is Nazi agitprop, the Third Reich imagery isn’t crammed down our throats here the way it is in ëTriumph of the Willë. You can enjoy this movie without feeling any urge to goose-step. But the story could have been told more effectively in a shorter running time. I’ll rate ëDer Große Königë 6 points out of 10.
Boy Actors
Klaus Detlef Sierck
(Prinz Heinrich der Jüngere)
(Prinz Heinrich der Jüngere)
Birthday: 30.03.1925
Day of death: 06.03.1944
Age of the actor:
approximately 17 years old
Day of death: 06.03.1944
Age of the actor:
approximately 17 years old
More informations
This film was registered by Heiner into the movie list!
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