Des Teufels General

This is a tranquil but disturbing film about a disputatious general trying to get along with the Nazi system. And even though the film does not live on action but on good dialogues, its appeal is quite different to that of the theatrical play. The movie is a classic.

This has been called the best German film ever made, and that might very well be the case. The play is Carl Zuckmayer's, but the film is a masterpiece in itself and offers a different aspect on this major dilemma of conscience among leading officers in Nazi Germany at the crucial time of the German invasion of Russia and the American involvement in the war - Germany was the one who declared war on the US. Above all the direction (by Helmut Käutner) brings the film on a universal level in its intensity and deep empathy with many besides the general, especially some of the women, and this drama could and should engage anyone, since it highlights the eternal problem of a human standing in relation with politics, political necessity and political pressure. One man in this film spites the system and does what he does because he feels ashamed of being a German because of what Germany is doing to the world, and that brings the drama to critical extremes with inevitable consequences, and generel Harras is perfectly logic in his ensuing action.

In spite of lack of action and dramatic effects, the film is invaluable for its sustained human drama involving many relationships and persons with highly engaging and pregnant dialogue all the way, presented by brilliant acting, so this is a film never to forget and always keep at hand for immediate access and reference.

"The devil's general" is about a war hero from the First World War who is still in the army when the Second World War breaks out, but who is secretly opposed to the Nazi's. Of course this general has to operate very carefully in order not to get unmasked. The film portrays the actions of this general, sometimes not without humour.

Helmut Käutner was one of the few post war German directors who remained in Germany during the Nazi regime but managed not to compromise himself by participating in Nazi propaganda. In fact his only respected colleague was Wolfgang Staudte. For years these two directors were the only two making quality cinema in Germany.

Helmut Käunter is mainly known for "Unter den Brucken" (1946), in the style of "L'Atalante" (1934, Jean Vigo).

The opening scene of "The devil's general" reminded me vaguely of "The damned" (1969, Luchino Visconti). There is a party of high ranked Nazi's. On the surface evrything is cheerful, but below there is a lot of mistrust and complot thinking.

After the opening scene the film remains well done but it does not equal the quality of "The damned". For this "The devil's general" lacks the perversity and cynicism that makes "The damned"such a great movie.

The epic of Goethe's "Faust" replayed in real life (Ernst Udet, Generalluftzeugmeister, was the source for Zuckmayer's General Harras), and in a play by Carl Zuckmayer. Displays excellently how Germans were suckered into following the modern day "Pied Piper from Austria": Adolf Hitler; and how you have to pay the piper if you follow him. "Denn wer auf Erden des Teufels General gewesen ist und ihm die Bahn gebombt hat, der muss ihm auch in der Hoelle Quartier machen!" - "For whoever was the Devil's General on this Earth, and who bombed the path for him, also has to be his quartermaster in hell!"

A movie that I saw for the first time decades ago and numerous times since! Every time I watch it, I discover new facets in Harras'personality. On one hand he is the tough guy, the party animal, the womanizer; however, he shows his softer, almost romantic side when he meets Diddo Geiss. I think that the movie could be a wonderful teaching tool, because it illustrates how "non-political", even rebellious Germans were drawn into the Nazi ideology and paid the ultimate price! Udo Jürgens and Marianne Koch were fabulous together! I would recommend this film for upper level German classes in the US. It is a good addition to "Die weisse Rose" or "Sophie Scholl".