Bismarck (Film 1940-ENG SUB)

Bismarck is a 1940 German historical film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner and starring Paul Hartmann, Friedrich Kayßler, and Lil Dagover. Audio in German with English subtitles (click on CC for subtitles).

A biographical film of Otto von Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia, and how he and his policies helped to unite Germany.
The film recalls the nineteenth century desire for German unification which at the time was threatened from several corners. From the liberals, from crown prince Frederich (who is shown as an English puppet) and the French who attempt to annex the left bank of the Rhine. The historical feature opens in 1862 with King Wilhelm I appointing Bismarck as head of the Prussian government. With Germany divided into 35 different political entities and power transferred to various principalities.

The last scene of the movie, the signing of the foundation of the German Empire in Versailles 1871, is a recreation of the painting "Die Proklamierung des Deutschen Kaiserreiches (18. Januar 1871)" The proclamation of the German Empire (18th January 1871) by Anton von Werner from the same year.

The film was made at the Johannisthal Studios in Berlin by Tobis Film one of the leading German companies of the era. It was shot at a variety of locations involving several related to the historic events of film including in Berlin, Vienna, Bad Gastein and Babelsberg Palace. Plau am See in Mecklenburg was also used for shooting. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Karl Machus and Erich Zander.

Cast & Characters:
Paul Hartmann as Otto von Bismarck
Friedrich Kayßler as King Wilhelm I
Lil Dagover as Empress Eugénie
Käthe Haack as Johanna von Bismarck
Maria Koppenhöfer as Queen Augusta
Walter Franck as Emperor Napoleon III
Ruth Hellberg as Princess Victoria
Werner Hinz as Prince Friedrich
Margret Militzer as Countess Marie von Bismarck
Karl Schönböck as Kaiser Franz Joseph
Günther Hadank as Minister Moltke
Hellmuth Bergmann as Minister von Roon
Karl Haubenreißer as Dr. Rudolf Virchow
Otto Gebühr as King John of Saxony
Jaspar von Oertzen as Prince Friedrich Karl
Harald Paulsen as Benedetti
Karl Meixner as Ludwig Loewe
Hans Junkermann as Field Marshall Wrangel
Otto Graf as Robert von Keudell
Franz Schafheitlin as Prince Metternich
Bruno Hübner as Count Rechberg
Paul Hoffmann as Count von Blome
Otto Stoeckel as Minister President Beust
Otto Below as Lothar Bucher
Eduard von Winterstein as General von Manstein
Karl Fochler as Count Karolyi
Wilhelm P. Krüger as Lakai Kuhn