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Cast
Carl Raddatz
as Albrecht Froben
Irene von Meyendorff
as Octavia Froben
Kristina Söderbaum
as Aels Flodéen
Franz Schafheitlin
as Mathias
Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
as Sanitätsrat Terboven
Paul Bildt
as Aels Flodeens Notar
Otto Treßler
as Senator Froben
Annemarie Steinsieck
as Frau Froben
Edgar Pauly
as Diener
Charlotte Schultz
as Krankenschwester
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1944
Runtime1h 38m
LanguageGerman
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, Romance
Votes19
DirectorVeit Harlan
WritersAlfred Braun, Hans Radtke, Veit Harlan
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.5 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Great Sacrifice
About The Great Sacrifice
Äls, a young woman from Sweden living in Hamburg in the summer months, attracts a newly married explorer, Albrecht Froben, who has just returned to his native city. But although Äls seems to be 'life itself', she suffers from a tropical disease which is slowly killing her. Froben is torn between Äls and his wife Octavia, who he seen as a kind of 'heavenly' counterpart to the earthy and beguiling Äls.
Directed by Veit Harlan, The Great Sacrifice leans on a strong ensemble — Carl Raddatz, Irene von Meyendorff, Kristina Söderbaum — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1944.
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