
The film traces Uli's progress from his humble peasant surroundings to the homes of the wealthy and prominent. The characterizations are convincing, and the comic interludes surprisingly subtle and believable for a Swiss film. The no-star cast doomed Uli Der Knecht from the start so far as American distribution was concerned. It was another matter in Switzerland, where the film was one of the year's top moneymakers. Uli der Knecht was based on a novel by Jeremias Gottbelf.

as Uli

as Joggeli, Glunggenbauer

as Vreneli

as Johannes, Bodenbauer

as Glunggenbäuerin

as Elisi

as Johannes

as Trinette

as Baumwollhändler

as Uersi

as Karrer