Death Is My Trade (1977): cast, story & where to watch
1977 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1977, Death Is My Trade is a drama and war film directed by Theodor Kotulla, running about 145 minutes.
What it’s about. “Death is my Trade” centers on the life of Rudolph Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz II-Birkenau for the majority of its existence. The main character's name in the film is Franz Lang. This name change was deliberate to ensure that the character is not automatically viewed as being some sort of villain or demon. Franz is an average German kid growing up during World War I. The film follows Franz as he grows up and becomes a hard, efficient, organized worker who eventually joins the National Socialist party in Germany. Impressionable young Franz takes orders as one of the utmost points of honor and duty, so when he is eventually asked by Heinrich Himmler to become commandant of the largest extermination camp built during WWII he barely hesitates to consider how heavy such a burden will be.
Who’s in it. Death Is My Trade stars Götz George as Franz Lang als Erwachsener, Kai Taschner as Franz Lang als Jugendlicher, Elisabeth Schwarz as Else and Hans Korte as Heinrich Himmler, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Death Is My Trade has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Death Is My Trade page.
If you liked it. Fans of Death Is My Trade tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Death Is My Trade (1977)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Death Is My Trade change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Death Is My Trade worth watching?
- Death Is My Trade holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Death Is My Trade?
- Death Is My Trade stars Götz George, Kai Taschner, Elisabeth Schwarz, Hans Korte and Kurt Hübner.
- When was Death Is My Trade released?
- Death Is My Trade was released in 1977, with a runtime of about 145 minutes.