History Film / TheDamned

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The Essenbecks are clearly modeled on the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krupp Krupp family]].

** Some early scenes allude to Herbert stealing corporate documents during his flight from Germany, hence rendering him potentially dangerous. This however is quickly forgotten - it's not even mentioned [[spoiler:when Herbert returns]] - leading viewers to wonder why Herbert poses such a threat to the Nazis, or [[ShootTheShaggyDog why his family has to suffer]]. Aschenbach even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, saying that foreign industrialists "won't be able to make use" of Herbert's documents.

* ShootTheShaggyDog: Two glaring examples, bordering on TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:
** Some early scenes allude to Herbert stealing corporate documents during his flight from Germany, hence rendering him potentially dangerous. This however is quickly forgotten - it's not even mentioned [[spoiler:when Herbert returns]] - leading viewers to wonder why Herbert poses such a threat to the Nazis, or why his family has to suffer. Aschenbach even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, saying that foreign industrialists "won't be able to make use" of Herbert's documents.
** The decree enabling Frederick to become an Essenbeck and hence inherit the steelworks upon marrying Sophie. This proves his motivation for funneling money to the Nazi Party, and later participating in the Long Knives massacre. Near the end, [[spoiler:Martin nonchalantly tears up the decree as "just a scrap of paper."]]

''The Damned'' was extremely controversial in its day, for both its sexual content and graphic violence. It remains a polarizing movie: some critics consider it a masterpiece, others think it's overblown and sensationalistic. Compare for instance Vincent Canby's [[http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF173AB22CAA494CC2B779958D6896 glowing review]] with RogerEbert's [[http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-damned-1970 scathing one]]. One notable fan is director RainerWernerFassbender, who said it "means as much to the history of film as Shakespeare to the history of theater."

''The Damned'' was extremely controversial in its day, for both its sexual content and graphic violence. It remains a polarizing movie: some critics consider it a masterpiece, others think it's overblown and sensationalistic. Compare for instance Vincent Canby's [[http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF173AB22CAA494CC2B779958D6896 glowing review]] with RogerEbert's [[http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-damned-1970 scathing one]].

* {{Blackmail}}: [[spoiler: Konstantin offers to Martin to cover his dirty affair with the Jewish little girl in exchange of being nominated president of the company. Later he's HoistedByHisOwnPetard. ]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Aschenbach assures that [[spoiler: Martin's relationship with the little girl and her suicide won't be investigated at all because ''she was Jewish''. And of course bacause he's soooo rich and powerful...]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonace: Aschenbach assures that [[spoiler: Martin's relationship with the little girl and her suicide won't be investigated at all because ''she was Jewish''. And of course bacause he's soooo rich and powerful...]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonace: Aschenbach assures that [[spoiler: Martin's relationship with the little girl and her suicide won't be investigated at all because ''she was Jewish''. And of course because he's soooo rich and powerful...]]

* EvilUncle: Konstantin [[spoiler: blackmails Martin for his dirty business with the Jewish girl. But Martin is pure evil himself, so...]]

* DinnerWithAShow

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: The Jewish girl who is raped by Martin. And in the end, Frederick and Sophie.]]

* RecycledInSpace: ''{{Macbeth}}'' meets ''{{Buddenbrooks}}'' in NaziGermany.

* PrettyBoy: Martin.

* FaceHeelTurn: Gunther, at the end. From the WhiteSheep of the family at the end he's duped into joining the Nazi party.]]

* PsycopathicManChild: Martin...Martin.

* PsycopathicManchild: Martin...Martin.

* SignatureScene: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h_-6zX7t5c Helmut Berger crossdressing as Marlene Dietrich.]]

* DrivenToSuicide

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler: Herbert, having fled abroad after Joachim's murder, returns very late in the film to reveal the fate of Elizabeth and his children. He disappears immediately afterwards without further mention.]]

Set in the early days of NaziGermany, ''Film/TheDamned'' depicts the downfall of the Essenbecks, a prosperous German steel family. Patriarch Joachim (Albrecht Schoenhals) announces his retirement from the family business. Frederick Bruckman (Dirk Bogarde), an ambitious company executive, conspires with Joachim's daughter Sophie (Ingrid Thulin) and SS official Aschenbach (Helmut Griem) to murder Joachim and take over the company. This sets off a vicious power struggle between Frederick, Sophie, Aschenbach, Sophie's son Martin (Helmut Berger) and Konstantin (Rene Koldehoff), an SA leader. Caught in the middle is Herbert Thalman (Umberto Orsini), Joachim's vice president whom Frederick frames for Joachim's death, his wife Elizabeth (Charlotte Rampling) and son Gunther (Renaud Verley).

* FreudianExcuse: If ever any movie character had one, it's Martin.

* TheWoobie: Elizabeth, big time.

Set in the early days of NaziGermany, ''TheDamned'' depicts the downfall of the Essenbecks, a prosperous German steel family. Patriarch Joachim (Albrecht Schoenhals) announces his retirement from the family business. Frederick Bruckman (Dirk Bogarde), an ambitious company executive, conspires with Joachim's daughter Sophie (Ingrid Thulin) and SS official Aschenbach (Helmut Griem) to murder Joachim and take over the company. This sets off a vicious power struggle between Frederick, Sophie, Aschenbach, Sophie's son Martin (Helmut Berger) and Konstantin (Rene Koldehoff), an SA leader. Caught in the middle is Herbert Thalman (Umberto Orsini), Joachim's vice president whom Frederick frames for Joachim's death, his wife Elizabeth (Charlotte Rampling) and son Gunther (Renaud Verley).

* AllGermansAreNazis: Averted. Aside from Konstantin, the Essenbeck only deal with the Nazis in the course of business (Joachim in particular seems disgusted by Hitler). We also see Herbert and his family persecuted as dissidents, and a scene where SA leader Konstantin argues with Aschenbach and several Wehrmacht generals.

* AllGermansAreNazis: Averted. Aside from Konstantin, the Aschenbachs only deal with the Nazis in the course of business (Joachim in particular seems disgusted by Hitler). We also see Herbert and his family persecuted as dissidents, and a scene where SA leader Konstantin argues with Aschenbach and several Wehrmacht generals.