After learning the fine art of kissing up to his superiors while kissing off his subordinates, the spineless but ambitious Diedrich (Werner Peters) climbs his way through his fraternity, his paper factory, his town council and more. Working his way to his biggest job -- that of an underling for the kaiser himself -- Diedrich makes for a keenly entertaining protagonist in this biting German satire, an overlooked gem by director Wolfgang Staudte.