Man on Horseback
- David Warner: Michael Kohlhaas
- Anna Karina: Elisabeth Kohlhaas
- Thomas Holtzmann: Martin Luther
- Michael Gothard: John
- Kurt Meisel: Chancellor
- Anton Diffring: Elector
- Gregory of Rezzori: Kunz
- Anita Pallenberg: Katrina ( Sutler )
- Relja Bašić: Nail
- Inigo Jackson: Junker of Tronka
- Václav Lohniský: Herse
- Emanuel Smith: Administrator
- Keith Richards: Soldier
Michael Kohlhaas - Der Rebell is a German film adaptation by director Volker Schlöndorff in 1969, based on the novella by Heinrich von Kleist, in which an honest horse trader for past unjustly suffering revenge, so that public interest is excited, but ultimately fails and executed will.
Action
The horse dealer Michael Kohlhaas is traveling to the market at Wittenberg, as one in the field of Junkers Wenzel von Tronka contrary to all former practice requires a coupling magnificent animals a pass from him. Kohlhaas must leave two horses as assurance that he will resubmit the bill.
In Wittenberg, he learns that he needs still no permit. On his return to Tronkas castle he finds the horses as miserable Moravia, one has to work hard in the fields and leave half starve. Kohlhaas refuses indignantly to take back the animals in this state and demanded redress. He goes to court, but to no avail. Shortly afterwards, it meets a terrible blow: When his wife Elizabeth at court will present a petition, they had a fatal accident.
In desperation, Kohlhaas is the Junker an ultimatum; as the deadline has passed, he falls at night with his servants Tronkas castle and burn it down. The squire, however, escapes to Wittenberg. Kohlhaas pursued him there with an ever- growing pile of rebellious peasants, demobilized soldiers and marauding mob, which is all to loot, where he seeks justice.
As the Wittenberg authorities refusing extradition of the Junkers, Kohlhaas falls with his men pillaging a town. The growing unrest come to the Elector highly inconvenient, so he can Kohlhaas about Martin Luther assure impunity and a resumption of his trial of the Junker if he dissolves his army and faces. Kohlhaas accepts the offer and rides to Dresden. There, his destiny fulfilled.
Reviews
" Kleist's Michael Kohlhaas (, One of the most righteous at the same time appalling men of his time ', Heinrich von Kleist ) is at the center of an elaborate Schlöndorff action movie. The renowned director used mainly the outer drama of the historic fabric, but staged with contemporary documentary footage of the leader references to the present times. "
" Expertly staged, politically contradictory film, which is also blatant atrocities spectacularly into the picture. "
" Colored, tension moved filming of the Kleist story of the fanatical right viewfinder Michael Kohlhaas, wearing the sake of two centimes Stir in the Electorate of Saxony. Volker Schlöndorff turned a strong image ballad that differs only by time and Costume of the Italian Western images. Nevertheless, an interesting treatment of a classic for the screen - friends of 16 years. "