Tha disappointing news is that the original German language version is lost thanks to the war. Thanks to Hitler. It only survives in a fragmented soundtrack and a recording that actress singer, Lizzi Waldmuller did , singing the song Berliner Luft. The fairly good news is that it survives in a worn french dubbed version,but the dubbing is right on the ball.Unfortunately,the ending is lost, but by the time it ends all the characters did what was part of the story. You don't miss a thing. If you heard Lizzies recording on the Berliner Luft,even in the German version, it is reduced to fit the plot.But in this version she sings it french ,or who ever was forced to dubbed it by the gestapo.No wonder it was good. The fear of having to end up working at the German ammunition factories.I'm just guessing.This was a Theo Ligins Comedy .So the operetta was just used for the comedy.Will Dohm, who plays,the impresario of the theater Knoppe,is having problems. He is putting the premiere of Frau Luna tonight on New years eve. Whats his problem? Censorship.The prefect,the president of the council, All played by George Alexander, Hubert Von Meyerick and, Paul Henkles,find the chorus Girl costumes Obscene and refuses to allow the show to go on?Carl Schonbock , who plays the theater lawyer Paul Rudinger, has to help Knopp to get out of the situation so the play will go on. Rudinger is engaged to Frau Gerlack's , played by Fita Benkhoff, daughter Gerda, played by Irene Von Meyendorff.Theo Lingens plays Lepke,who is auditioning with fellow artist Cacille, played by Ursula Herskins, for a double bicycle number ,without a bike, for a show contest at Francious wine garden and bistro theater.But he needs to get a double bike for the number.Paul Kemp, who runs a music shop, with the help of his assistance Traute,played by Elsie Von Mollendorf, and also does piano at another wine Bistro, part time,helps him get it.Lizzie Waldmuller, with her voice dubbed in french,plays Vera the lead singer and actress of the play.George Alexander, who plays the president informs to Knoppe that the chorus girls costumes will have to be altered, showing the second design of the costume in sketches that his lawyer got from Knoppe. Short little round dresses above the short pants.Vera has to do some seduction tricks to get the law off the backs of their musical. Paul Kemp finds the man ,who owns the double seat bicycle, but he wants the bill to be payed now. Theo tries to tell him that after the contest he would pay him. Then Shonbock shows up and the bicycle sales man takes off. Well Kemp find the bike salesman and tricks him so that Theo gets the bike. Well Frau Luna curtain goes up. Fita and Irene and her fiancé , played by Schonbock,are at the balcony with George.The rest of the council, Hubert Von Meyerick and Paul Henkles, sitting at the bottom. Well back at Francious, wine garden and Bistro theater,Theo gets ready for the number using the bicycle,than all of a sudden Ursula get scared to do the number. Paul has to dress up in drag and takes her place on the stage with Leo.Well after the first curtain the councilors were even more offended at the chorus costumes.George during the intermission jumps on Dohm. After the first opening Dohm gets lawyer ,Rudinger, to get them off their backs. He gets Lizzi to take action against the council. The angry bike sales man shows up at the bistro, back stage , forcing Kemp and Ligens to bike off the stage and outside of the theater crashing into a both. Messing up the show.Irene sees Shonbock with Lizzi and gets mad at him. The council see him with Lizzi at the restaurant and are appalled. He leave and she's by herself. Then they all go up to her and give her a toast to the new year, which leads Paul Henkles in a photo finish compromising position, after they did some musical chairs. Kemp and Ligens and Elsie show up at the same place They got to win that money, So Kemp helps him in defeating a muscle Wrestler. Kemp pays hired hands to cause an accident so that Ligens will wins. While Ligens is being knocked down all of a sudden the new years eve bell hits, the lights goes off . The wrestler is knocked down by the gong. the lights go up and makes it looks as if Ligens knocked him down and wins. The movie ends abruptly. Even though it isn't fully complete and it's not the German version it still good. available at reichkino.09/03/11 10/19/11 Good new ! It's not lost. It's fully complete with a digitally perfect Nazi News reel,except for the age of the film, After Ligens and Kemp win the money. Every body starts in a brawl of a fight, until the police come in . George Alexander is called up about the scandal that was produced in New years eve. Paul Henckles and George get together to allow Frau Luna to play the way it was suppose to be.Henckles becomes involved with Lizzie. Alexander get engaged to Fita. Carl makes up with Irene.Later Lizzi sings the finale ,of the play, "The Berlin
Luft. Ligens pays the Bike salesman the money he owes to him ,for the bike.Theo,Paul Kemp Else and Ursula are singing the Berlin Luft as they ride a bike Built for four at Kurts Night club, who is now a father.Complete version available at www.warfilms.com10/22/11 I might of made a mistake .I think Carl Schonbocks role of Paul was not a lawyer but a portrayed version of the composer of the operetta
Luft. Ligens pays the Bike salesman the money he owes to him ,for the bike.Theo,Paul Kemp Else and Ursula are singing the Berlin Luft as they ride a bike Built for four at Kurts Night club, who is now a father.Complete version available at www.warfilms.com10/22/11 I might of made a mistake .I think Carl Schonbocks role of Paul was not a lawyer but a portrayed version of the composer of the operetta
