Man of Straw
Released: August 31, 1951Runtime: 109 minLanguage: DE
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. 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...
Credits
Related titles
No curated related titles yet. Use the edit affordance to add "More from this director", "Same franchise", or "Adaptation source material" entries — every change goes through the wiki review queue.
Sign in to claim that you worked on Man of Straw. Claims go to a moderation queue and appear in the Self-Claimed Contributors rail once approved.
Technical specs
No technical specs (aspect ratio, sound mix, cameras…) documented yet. Know it? Add it →
Awards
No awards or nominations listed yet. Know it? Add it →
Connections
No connections (sequels, references, remakes…) mapped yet. Know it? Add it →
Soundtrack
No soundtrack documented yet. Know it? Add it →
Filming locations
No filming locations documented yet. Know it? Add it →
Community tags
Be the first to tag this page — tags appear right away. Try a theme, mood, or subject (e.g. WWII, heist, slow burn, time travel, A24).
Cast & Crew
Top billed cast
Werner Peters
as Diederich Heßling
Paul Esser
as Regierungspräsident von Wulckow
Renate Fischer
as Guste Daimchen
Ernst Legal
as Pastor Zillich
Raimund Schelcher
as Dr. Wolfgang Buck
Eduard Von Winterstein
as Buck sen.
Friedrich Maurer
as Fabrikant Göpel
Sabine Thalbach
as Agnes Göpel
Hannsgeorg Laubenthal
as Mahlmann
Friedrich Gna
as Napoleon Fischer
Directors
1Writers
3Other crew
5Ratings & reviews
We’re attempting to crowdsource this data.
Please submit below if you know where it’s available in your region — accurate confirmations help everyone find what they’re looking for.
Where to watch
Not currently streaming on any platform we track.
Parents Guide
Gallery
Add imageNo community images for Man of Straw yet
Add a still, a storyboard, or concept art — every image gets its own page where members can discuss it.
Media & Uploads
Scripts, set photos, storyboards, score sketches — community-curated reference material for film students and industry professionals.
Did you or a loved one work on Man of Straw?
Every stage matters — pitch decks and treatments from development, location scouts and table-reads from pre-production, set photos and crew anecdotes from production, edit-bay notes from post, and press kits, festival memories, or marketing ephemera from distribution. Any moment that didn't make the press tour, any document or photograph that's been sitting in a box — please share it so it's not lost to time.
We particularly welcome contributions from writers, producers, cast, crew, festival programmers, distributors, marketing teams, their families, and anyone who was there at any stage.
Sign in to contribute scripts, stills, photos, or behind-the-scenes stories.
Be the first to share something on Man of Straw.
Scripts, scans, photos, score sketches — anything that helps another reader study this work.
Trailers
Browse all →No trailers logged for Man of Straw yet — add the first one below.
Spot a trailer we’re missing?
Add a trailer from any film, show, or game.
Memorable quotes
Browse all →No quotes logged for Man of Straw yet — add the first memorable line below.
Got a quote we’re missing?
Submit a line from any film, show, or game.
Trivia & Mistakes
No trivia or mistakes yet for Man of Straw.
The bot is still curating — or no one’s added one yet. Did you spot a continuity slip, a fun production fact, or a hidden cameo? Use + Add trivia above to contribute.
Physical & Digital Releases
No release dates on file yet.
Use Edit above to add the theatrical, digital, Blu-ray, DVD, or 4K release dates. Special editions (Criterion, Steelbook, Limited Edition) go in the dedicated array below the date fields. Every contribution is reviewed before going live.
The conversation
Loading the conversation…
Comments (0)
on Man of StrawNo comments yet. Be the first to share what you think.
No discussion yet
Start the discussion on Man of Straw.
You’ll be the first. We’ll spin up a forum tied to this page, your first post will live there, and other readers can join in.
Edit history
Loading edit history…