The Damned (1969)

VHS CASE/ SIDE

Length of film:  157 Minutes (Edited: 150 Minutes)

Rated: X

Genre: Drama, War

Director: Luchino Visconti

Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Ingrid Thulin, Helmut Griem, Helmut Berger, Renaud Verley, Umberto Orsini

IMDB Rank: 7.4 /10

Part 2 Time:  93 Minutes (Edited: N/A Minutes)

Part 1 Time:  64 Minutes (Edited: N/A Minutes)

Where does the first part end? Friedrich Bruckmann (Dirk Bogarde) and Sophie Von Essenbeck (Ingrid Thulin) embrace one another in bed. Sophie agrees to help free Friedrich from Konstantin’s (Reinhard Kolldehoff) blackmail and shares with him the plan to purge the SA.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Aschenback will tell you where and when,” states Sophie.

First line of dialogue on the second part: Many high-ranking SA members gather at a hotel in Bad Wiessee. Konstantin exits a car stating; “I’ve not been in Wiessee since Munich.”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, by 1933 the SA (Hitler’s militia) were at odds with the German army and the SS. In an attempt to secure Nazi power in Germany, Hitler orders the death of many high ranking SA members. The Essenback’s are at odds with one another as some members are either apart of the SA (i.e., Konstantin), the SS (i.e., Martin, Aschenbach), or disagree with the Nazi regime entirely (i.e., Herbert). Each family member is attempting to gain control of the steelworks empire, which will play a significant role in war time production. Who will ultimately come to control the steelworks?

Which part is better? The film showcases the struggle many families faced during the onset of the Nazi regime in regards to belief systems. The Essenback’s are an extreme case as an industrial empire is up for grabs, forcing family members to choose sides and betray those not supporting the cause. Part two is somewhat better as the film depicts the spine-chilling details of the ‘Night of the Long Knives,’ and concludes the roller coaster ride of the Essenback conflict, with one member gaining absolute control over the steelworks.

Academy Awards: 1970; Best Writing Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced (Nominated)

Other Awards: 1970 Golden Globes; Most Promising Male Newcomer (Nominated- Helmut Berger)