Trenck the Pandur (German: Trenck, der Pandur) is a 1940 German historical adventure film directed by Herbert Selpin and starring Hans Albers, Käthe Dorsch and Sybille Schmitz. It was shot at the Babelsberg Studios and Johannisthal Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by the art director Fritz Maurischat and Fritz Lück.
It is loosely based on the life of Baron Franz von der Trenck, the commander of Trenck's Pandurs raised during the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria. The film was laced with anti-French attitudes, as when it was went into production Nazi Germany and France were enemies in the Second World War. By the time the film was released France had been forced into an armistice after the German invasion.
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Synopsis
The nobleman Trenck returns to Vienna after many years away and raises a unit of Pandurs to serve in the War of the Austrian Succession. He has recently escaped from Russia after facing a court martial and execution, and his romantic entanglements have threatened Austria's important alliance with Russia. He leads his Pandurs against the French to redeem himself, but proves himself most useful in foiling a scheme by the French spies Countess St. Croix and Prince Solojew. The latter is betrothed to Prinzessin Deinhardstein who Trenck has rescued from her unwanted engagement.
Cast
Hans Albers as Freiherr von der Trenck
Käthe Dorsch as Kaiserin Maria Theresia
Sybille Schmitz as Prinzessin Deinhardstein
Hilde Weissner as Gräfin St. Croix
Elisabeth Flickenschildt as Natalie Alexandrowa Fürstin Solojew
Hans Nielsen as Laudon
Oskar Sima as Harun Bashi
Jaspar von Oertzen as Todt
Peter Voß as Fürst Khevenhüller
Herbert Hübner as Fürst Solojew
Karl Fochler as Prokop, Oberstleutnant
Hubert von Meyerinck as Herr von Sazenthal
Harry Hardt as Major Löwenwalde
Hadrian Maria Netto as Zeremonienmeister b. K.
Theodor Thony as Marschall Coigny
Josef Peterhans as Zeremonienmeister Deinartstein
Fritz Hinz-Fabricius as Herr von Sommerfeld
Boris Alekin as Russischer Leutnant