After her husband dies, a German woman who gave up her infant for adoption to emigrate to America returns to Germany, discovering that her child is being raised by a married orchestra conductor.
Direction
Sirk's lush visual style already fully formed.
Score
Wagner and Schubert weaponized for maximum tears.
Director
Douglas Sirk
Maria von Tasnady
Hanna Müller
Willy Birgel
Garvenberg, Generalmusikdirektor
Lil Dagover
Charlotte Garvenberg, seine Frau
Maria Koppenhöfer
Frau Freese, Wirtschafterin
Theodor Loos
Professor Obereit
Peter Bosse
Der kleine Peter
Kurt Meisel
Baron Salviany
Erich Ponto
Vorsitzender des Schwurgerichts
Paul Otto
Staatsanwalt
Alexander Engel
Mr. Smith
Walter Werner
Dr. Smedley
Erna Berger
Soprano
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sirk shot this in just 18 days for UFA, his first feature after fleeing the stage. The studio wanted a women's picture; he delivered a template he'd perfect in Hollywood.
This is essentially Sirk's dry run for 'Imitation of Life'—the same fractured maternal bond, the same racial/class subtext, the same devastating final image of a mother watching from outside.
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