''Man of Straw'' is a British

television drama series In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular su ...

which first aired on

BBC 2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and d ...

between 30 January and 5 March 1972. It is an adaptation of the 1918 novel ''

Der Untertan ''Der Untertan'' (; literally "the underling", translated into English under the titles ''Man of Straw'', ''The Patrioteer'', and ''The Loyal Subject'') is one of the best known novels of German author Heinrich Mann. The title character, Diederic ...

'' (The Underling) by

Heinrich Mann Luiz Heinrich Mann (; March 27, 1871 – March 11, 1950), best known as simply Heinrich Mann, was a German writer known for his sociopolitical novels. From 1930 until 1933, he was president of the fine poetry division of the Prussian Academy ...

.Baskin p.112 It takes place during the final years of

Wilhelmine Germany The Wilhelmine period or Wilhelmian era () comprises the period of German history between 1888 and 1918, embracing the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II in the German Empire from the death of Kaiser Friedrich III until the end of World War I and Wilhel ...

Main cast

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen as well as for his work at the Royal National Theatre, he has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a BAFTA Award, two ...

as Diederich Hessling (6 episodes) * John Phillips as Dr. Heuteufel (5 episodes) * Denis Carey as Sötbier (4 episodes) *

Judy Cornwell Judy Valerie Cornwell (born 22 February 1940) is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Daisy in the British sitcom ''Keeping Up Appearances'' (1990–1995). She also played Anya Claus in '' Santa Claus: The Movie'' (1985). In ...

as Guste Daimchen (4 episodes) * Elizabeth Bell as Emmi Hessling (3 episodes) * Sheila Brennan as Frau Hessling (3 episodes) *

Dave Hill Dave Hill may refer to: * Dave Hill (baseball) (1937–2018), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Dave Hill (golfer) (1937–2011), American golfer * Dave Hill (American football) (1941–2022), American football player * Dave Hill (automot ...

as Napoleon Fischer (3 episodes) *

Judy Loe Judith Margaret Loe (born 6 March 1947) is an English actress known for her work in television. Early life Loe was born in Urmston, Lancashire, the only child of Norman Scarborough Loe, who worked in the equipment business, and Nancy (née ...

as Kätchen Zillich (3 episodes) * Karin MacCarthy as Magda Hessling (3 episodes) *

Ian Ogilvy Ian Raymond Ogilvy (born 30 September 1943) is an English actor, playwright and novelist. Early life Ogilvy was born in Woking, Surrey, England, to Francis Fairfield Ogilvy, brother of advertising executive David Ogilvy, and actress Aileen R ...

as Wolfgang Buck (3 episodes) *

John Savident John Frederick Joseph Savident (21 January 1938 – 21 February 2024) was a British actor, known for his numerous television roles, including his portrayal of Fred Elliott in the soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 1994 to 2006. He was also ...

as Von Wulckow (3 episodes) * Juliet Aykroyd as Agnes Göppel (2 episodes) *

Sam Dastor Sam Dastor is an Indian-born British actor best known for his appearances in British television series. Life and career Dastor was born in India and raised in a Parsi family of Zoroastrian faith, though he later converted to Christianity. He g ...

as Dr. Jadassohn (2 episodes) * Mike Fields as Virsing (2 episodes) *

Derek Francis Derek Francis (7 November 1923 – 27 March 1984) was an English comedy and character actor. Biography Francis was a regular in the Carry On film players, appearing in six of the films in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in '' The Tomb of Lig ...

as Herr Göppel (2 episodes) * Harry Hutchinson as Judge Sarding (2 episodes) * David King as Burgermeister Scheffelweis (2 episodes) *

Stanley Lebor Stanley Harvey Lebor (24 September 1934 – 22 November 2014) was an English actor. He was best known for his roles as Howard Hughes in the 1980s BBC TV comedy series ''Ever Decreasing Circles'', the Mongon Doctor in ''Flash Gordon'' (1980), and ...

as Herr Cohn (2 episodes) *

Stuart McGugan Stuart McGugan (born 2 March 1944) is a Scottish actor and television presenter. Career He played the roles of Gunner 'Atlas' Mackintosh in the BBC sitcom ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' and Bomba MacAteer in ''Tutti Frutti''. McGugan was a presen ...

as Fox Major (2 episodes) *

Eve Pearce Eve Pearce (17 April 1929 – 13 January 2023) was a Scottish actress. She performed in many Royal Shakespeare Company productions. Early life Eve Pearce was born in Aberdeen to a very poor family and was brought up in a one-roomed tenement, h ...

as Judith Lauer (2 episodes) * Sean Roantree as Wiebel (2 episodes) *

Cyril Shaps Cyril Leonard Shaps (13 October 1923 – 1 January 2003) was an English actor of radio, television and film, with a career spanning over seven decades. Early radio Shaps was born in the East End of London to Polish-Jewish parents; his father ...

as Herr Lauer (2 episodes) * Brian Stirner as Hernung (2 episodes) * Manning Wilson as Pastor Zillich (2 episodes)

References

Bibliography

*Ellen Baskin. ''Serials on British Television, 1950-1994''. Scolar Press, 1996.

External links

* {{Herbert Wise BBC television dramas 1972 British television series debuts 1972 British television series endings British English-language television shows Television shows based on German novels