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Die Entlassung

  • 19421942
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
93
YOUR RATING
Die Entlassung (1942)
DramaHistory
A sequel to 1940's "Bismarck", Bismarck is dismissed by an under-pressure Wilhelm II. Then the treaty with Russia is in peril as the leader is left with the dilemma of who could complete Bis... Read allA sequel to 1940's "Bismarck", Bismarck is dismissed by an under-pressure Wilhelm II. Then the treaty with Russia is in peril as the leader is left with the dilemma of who could complete Bismarck's work.A sequel to 1940's "Bismarck", Bismarck is dismissed by an under-pressure Wilhelm II. Then the treaty with Russia is in peril as the leader is left with the dilemma of who could complete Bismarck's work.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
93
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wolfgang Liebeneiner
  • Writers
    • Alexander Lernet-Holenia(story)
    • Curt J. Braun
    • Otto von Bismarck(book "Gedanken und Erinnerungen")
  • Stars
    • Emil Jannings
    • Margarete Schön
    • Christian Kayßler
  • Director
    • Wolfgang Liebeneiner
  • Writers
    • Alexander Lernet-Holenia(story)
    • Curt J. Braun
    • Otto von Bismarck(book "Gedanken und Erinnerungen")
  • Stars
    • Emil Jannings
    • Margarete Schön
    • Christian Kayßler
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Die Entlassung (1942)
    Emil Jannings in Die Entlassung (1942)
    Emil Jannings in Die Entlassung (1942)
    Emil Jannings in Die Entlassung (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Emil Jannings
    Emil Jannings
    • Fürst Bismarck
    Margarete Schön
    Margarete Schön
    • Fürstin Johanna Bismarck
    Christian Kayßler
    Christian Kayßler
    • Graf Herbert Bismarck
    Theodor Loos
    Theodor Loos
    • Kaiser Wilhelm I.
    Karl Ludwig Diehl
    Karl Ludwig Diehl
    • Kaiser Friederich III.
    Hildegard Grethe
    • Kaiserin Friedrich
    Werner Hinz
    Werner Hinz
    • Kaiser Wilhelm II.
    Werner Krauss
    Werner Krauss
    • Geheimrat von Holstein
    Otto Graf
    • Graf Eulenburg
    Paul Hoffmann
    • Graf Waldersee
    Paul Bildt
    Paul Bildt
    • Minister von Bötticher
    Walther Süssenguth
    • Zar Alexander
    Franz Schafheitlin
    • Botschafter Graf Schuwalow
    Herbert Hübner
    Herbert Hübner
    • Generaladjutant von Hahnke
    Rudolf Blümner
    • Chef des Zivilkabinetts von Lucanus
    Fritz Kampers
    Fritz Kampers
    • Professor Dr. Schwenninger
    Emil Heß
    • Grossfürst Wladimir
    Heinrich Schroth
    Heinrich Schroth
    • General von Caprivi
    • Director
      • Wolfgang Liebeneiner
    • Writers
      • Alexander Lernet-Holenia(story)
      • Curt J. Braun
      • Otto von Bismarck(book "Gedanken und Erinnerungen")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Werner Hinz who was in the original movie Bismarck (1940) playing Prince Frederic III appeared, as the only member of the original cast, in this movie as well. This time he played Emperor Wilhelm II.
    • Goofs
      Emperor Wilhelm II announced that he wants to apply his new laws for the workers security on his birthday. It would be the 24th January. However the laws were released on the 4th February 1890. This gave them the nickname "Februrary decrees".
    • Quotes

      Fürst Bismarck: [final quote, while standing in front of the painting of Bismarck in Versailles during the foundation of the German Empire] Twenty years ago I stood there. And now? Where do I stand now? But where I stand today is not important anymore. Cause what will survive me is the Empire. My empire. Germany. Yes. My work is done. It was just a beginning. Who will complete it?

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits say: The scenes and dialogues of this movie are based on historical sources, especially on Bismarck's thoughts and memories. Bismarck's addressing is taken literally from his speeches.
    • Connections
      Featured in Hitler's Hollywood (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Marche funèbre
      written by Frédéric Chopin

      (played at the funeral of Emperor Wilhelm I)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Good historical biopic
    The downfall of Germanys "Iron Chancellor" Bismarck (Emil Jannings), who had to resign from his position just two years after Wilhelm II. (then just 29 years old) became Emperor of the Reich. The film depicts the clash between the unexperienced and notoriously narcissistic Wilhelm II. and Bismarck, who basically had ruled the country all by himself since 1871, while Wilhelm's grandfather, Wilhelm I., had basically been a merely symbolical figure in the background.

    Despite of what has often been written about this film, there is just a few National-Socialist propaganda in it - at least in the DVD-version I was able to see, which may have been cut. In one scene Bismarck explains to Wilhelm that the social problems of the country can only be solved by a "socialism from above", a "socialism" which at the same time must be "national". Another scene shows Bismarck confronting the Social Democrats at the Reichstag, among them his arch-adversary August Bebel. Bebel was Jewish, and another Jewish social-democratic member of the Reichstag (Paul Singer) makes a brief and decidedly unappealing appearance. Otherwise the film does not stress the Jewishness of the Social Democrats, at least not in the possibly edited version available.

    Apart from that the film is basically a patriotic epic in the vein of D.W. Griffith's ABRAHAM LINCOLN. As usual in historical biopics, actions are simplified, condensed and dramatized, but overall DIE ENTLASSUNG is historically pretty accurate - and surprisingly complex for a nationalistic film shot within the system of the Third Reich. Some liberties have been taken, but they don't change the historical connection of the events much. There are many little details that only those with a good knowledge of Bismarck's life and the feud between him and Wilhelm will recognize. It is not true what another commentator wrote, that Wilhelm is presented with both of his arms intact. Note how he always keeps his left arm hidden in the coat or behind the back.

    To non-German commentators the main significance of the story may be lost: the tragedy is not only about the fall of Bismarck and the futility of his lifework but also of the Second Reich which was his creation. The arrogance and ignorance of the young Kaiser and the manipulations of the intriguers (great: Werner Krauss) at the court prevent the renewal of a friendship pact between Germany and Russia, a centerpiece of Bismarck's diplomacy. The film is absolutely historically correct here. This failure proved to be fatal, as Russia found new allies in England and France which lead to the constellation of 1914, exactly the two-front-war that Bismarck tried to avoid. Thus the ending of the film is not "bizarre" at all - but in order to make it less fatalistic as it could have been, the bad guy Krauss gets a deserved bashing by Bismarck, after which a dissolve switches the scenery to the famous Bismarck monument build in 1906 in Hamburg. Being a war-time film under a nationalist regime the film needed some appeal to heroism in the end, covering up the more darker and pessimistic implications of the story.

    Typical for the quality films of the Third Reich, DIE ENTLASSUNG relies on set-pieces and excellent acting rather than on cutting and camera work. The screenplay is by the Austrian writer Alexander Lernet-Holenia, who in fact was a conservative opponent to the Nazis. Jannings and Krauss give great performances, which make THE ENTLASSUNG indeed a far better film than its prequel BISMARCK.
    helpful•18
    1
    • Lichtmesz23
    • Aug 23, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 1942 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Dismissal
    • Filming locations
      • Berlin, Germany
    • Production company
      • Tobis Filmkunst
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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