Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) was the author of Werther, the romantic novel that was transformed into a play during Goethe's lifetime and which initiated the whole German romantic movement. The book's story tells of young love and suicide. In this East German film, based on a book by Thomas Mann, Lotte (Lilli Palmer) was the woman who served as the model for the heroine in the novel Werther. She comes to Goethe's hometown for a visit, and her experiences there eerily re-create episodes from the book. Goethe comes across as a pompous old bore, and his friends as pandering sycophants, in this very proper communist party-sponsored, anti-heroic movie.
as Lotte
as Goethe
as Kellner Mager
as August Goethe
as Adele Schopenhauer
as Ottilie von Pogwisch
as Charlotte, Lottes Tochter
as Professor Meyer
as Dr. Riemer
as Landkammerrat Ridel
as Diener Karl
as Klärchen
as Amalie Ridel
as Frau Riemer
as Frau Meyer
as Frau Kirms
as Frau Coudray
as Stephan Schütze
as Hofkammerrat Krims
as Oberbaurat Coudray
as Bergrat Werner
as Bauer
as Rühring
as Ferdinand Heinke
as Frau Elmenreich
as Diener
as Junge Lotte
as Junger Goethe
as Kestner
