| Die Entlassung | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Wolfgang Liebeneiner |
| Produced by | Emil Jannings (producer) Fritz Klotsch (line producer) Walter Lehmann (executive producer) |
| Written by | Alexander Lernet-Holenia (story) Curt J. Braun Felix von Eckardt |
| Starring | See below |
| Music by | Herbert Windt |
| Cinematography | Fritz Arno Wagner |
| Editing by | Martha Dübber |
| Release date(s) | 1942 |
| Running time | 110 minutes 100 minutes (West Germany cut version) |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Language | German |
Die Entlassung (English title: The Dismissal) is a 1942 German film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner about the dismissal of Otto von Bismarck. It was one of only four films to receive the honourary distinction "Film of the Nation" ("Film der Nation") by the Reich Propaganda Ministry Censorship Office.[1]
The success of the 1940 film Bismarck led to this film as a sequel.[2]
The film is also known as Bismarck's Dismissal in the United Kingdom, Schicksalswende (West German rerun title) and Wilhelm II. und Bismarck (new West German title).
Contents |
The film shows Bismarck being dismissed by Wilheim II and the dilenettes who surround him.[3] An unscrupulous schemer plays on the king's desire to lead and so persuades him to the dismissal.[4] This results in a disastrous two-front war by destroying Bismarck's treaty with Russia and leaving him to lament with the question of who would complete his work.[3]
The war with Russia delayed its release, and it was not exported, owing to the obvious parallels.[5]
Much emphasis was laid on Bismarck's notion of Greater Germany.[5] His failure was depicted as leading to Versailles.[6]