Reviews of "Das Schöne Abenteuer (1932)"
aka The Beautiful Adventure (1932)
aka La Belle Adventure (1932)
Plot summary (from Illustrierter Film-Kurier Nr. 469)
Translated from the
German original
with much help from
Christoph Michel.
It's a big day for the Countess d'Eguzon. The fulfilment of her greatest
wish is within her grasp, for today the wedding of her charming niece Hélène
de Trévillac and paunchy Valentin de Barroyer is to take place. The bride's
wedding dress is ready, and the first guest are arriving. The countess'
triumph is almost complete. Within the hour, Hélène will be Valentin's wife
and leave the house that was her home ever since she was taken in as an
orphan, the house where she was tolerated until the countess' son André fell
in love with Hélène. That was when the countess took fate in her own hands,
sending André to Vienna as a diplomat so he could see the world. He wrote to
his secret bride every day, but the letters were intercepted by the
countess, and Hélène in her disappointment couldn't help but think that
André had forgotten all about her. This was the mood she was in when her
aunt introduced wealthy Valentin as a suitor. In her exhaustion and despair,
with no sign of life from André, Hélène didn't say no. She was told that
André wouldn't even come to the wedding because of his duties in Vienna. Now
the wedding march can be heard, and Valentin is getting fidgety with
excitement. It's all too much for the corpulent, good-natured, pedantic
fellow: The wedding, to be followed by the trip out into the country to
Hélène's grandmother, the ancient Madame de Trévillac, all that baggage,
change trains in Limoges, all this he has to think of and he forgets the
young disappointed woman standing in front of him. - A car comes rushing
into the courtyard, a young man (in travelling clothes) bounds up the steps
and sees the preparations for the wedding. The door to Hélène's room bursts
open. André confronts the trembling bride, demanding that she account for
herself. Why didn't she reply to any of his letters, why had she lacked the
courage to confess her infidelity? - Letters? She never received any
letters, Hélène says. The two understand quickly what has been done to them.
But there is still time. Coming to get the bride, Valentin finds only her
veil. In the ensuing commotion, a car with two happy passengers leaves the
Palais courtyard in a hurry. Old Madame de Trévillac is awaiting the young
couple with a grandmother's impatience. Upon their arrival, the handsome,
lively young husband finds favour under her critical gaze. She hardly
notices that they have arrived without baggage, takes the newlyweds to the
bridal chamber and leaves them alone. Kindly old [chambermaid] Jeantine,
however, is determined to influence events. She knows that three twigs of
Rosemary laid on the doorstep of the bridal chamber ensure that it's going
to be a boy if the young wife steps on the twigs in the morning! Grandma
decides that there's no harm in trying. Tiptoeing into the anteroom of the
bridal chamber, she finds the young husband there sleeping in an armchair.
Not taking no for an answer, she orders the supposed husband in to join
Hélène. The next morning, Valentin arrives in a sweat and out of breath to
inform old Madame de Trévillac about Hélène's elopement. André appears and
has to admit that he is not yet married to Hélène. The old lady is outraged.
At this juncture, the door swings open and Hélène steps out of her room,
treading on the Rosemary twigs. This is too much for Grandma. Seeing that
she has only herself to blame since she forced André into Hélène's room, she
forgives the young couple and protects them when the countess d'Eguzon
arrives. Valentin too is calmed down and André promises to have the marriage
performed shortly. And the twigs of Rosemary - either there was one twig too
many or Hélène stepped on them twice - lead to twins.
Truly a beautiful adventure.
See also
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