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MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 18% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Good German
"If war is Hell, then what comes after?"
2006 1h 48m EN
😐
5.8
MID
★5.8TMDB · 365
DramaMysteryRomanceThrillerWar
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
An American journalist arrives in Berlin just after the end of World War Two. He becomes involved in a murder mystery surrounding a dead GI who washes up at a lakeside mansion during the Potsdam negotiations between the Allied powers. Soon his investigation connects with his search for his married pre-war German lover.
“If war is Hell, then what comes after?”
Cast
George Clooney
Jake Geismar
Cate Blanchett
Lena Brandt
Tobey Maguire
Tully
Beau Bridges
Colonel Muller
Tony Curran
Danny
Leland Orser
Bernie Teitel
Jack Thompson
Congressman Breimer
Robin Weigert
Hannelore
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Writers
- Paul Attanasio
- Languages
- Russian, German, Mandarin, English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 20 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Russian, German, Mandarin, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, shot by Steven Soderbergh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Thomas Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Steven Soderbergh shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
George Clooney and Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "If war is Hell, then what comes after?".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Steven Soderbergh directs. Steven Soderbergh behind the camera. Thomas Newman scores. Steven Soderbergh cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Russian, German, Mandarin, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 18% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 2Released 20 years ago.
- 3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Russian, German, Mandarin, English.
- 4Directed by Steven Soderbergh, shot by Steven Soderbergh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Thomas Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Steven Soderbergh shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7George Clooney and Cate Blanchett and Tobey Maguire carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "If war is Hell, then what comes after?".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0452624 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 14 themes, including "berlin, germany", "chauffeur", "corruption", "love of one's life".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Steven Soderbergh
- Original score
- Thomas Newman
- Editing
- Steven Soderbergh
- Production design
- Philip Messina
- Costume design
- Louise Frogley
- Makeup / hair
- Waldo Sanchez
- VFX supervisor
- Thomas J. Smith
- Sound
- Larry Blake
- Stunt coordinator
- John Robotham
- Runtime
- 108 min · 1h 48m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $32,000,000
- Box office
- $5,914,908
- Return
- 18% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
Steven Soderbergh
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Warner Bros. Pictures
US
Virtual Studios
US
Section Eight
US
Key crew
- NovelJoseph Kanon
- EditorSteven Soderbergh
- CastingDebra Zane
- Production DesignPhilip Messina
- Art DirectionDoug J. Meerdink
- Set DecorationKristen Toscano Messina
- Costume DesignLouise Frogley
- Art Department CoordinatorWylie Griffin
- Construction CoordinatorChris Snyder
- Sound Re-Recording MixerLarry Blake
- Special Effects CoordinatorKevin Hannigan
- Visual Effects CoordinatorHeather Elisa Hill
- Visual Effects ProducerMelissa Brockman
- Visual Effects SupervisorThomas J. Smith
- Camera OperatorChris Lombardi
- Still PhotographerMelinda Sue Gordon
- First Assistant CameraSteven Meizler
- Rigging GafferR. Michael De Chellis
- Rigging GripKent Baker
- Casting AssociateJeremy Rich
- Casting AssociateTannis Vallely
- Costume SupervisorLynda Foote
- Set CostumerShandra Beri
- Set CostumerJason M. Moore
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- berlin, germany
- chauffeur
- corruption
- love of one's life
- nazi
- war correspondent
- allies
- black market
- truth
- missile
- murder
- black and white
- post war
- humanity
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere2006-11-12R· American Cinemateque
- Theatrical (limited)2006-12-15R
- Theatrical2007-01-19R
Also known as
International titles
- Steven Soderbergh's The Good GermanUS
- Dobry NiemiecPL
- El buen alemánES
- A jó németHU
- O Segredo de BerlimBR
- L'ami allemandFR
- O kalos germanosGR
- Good GermanUS
- The Good German - In den Ruinen von BerlinDE
