Das ideale Brautpaar (1954)

The show “The Ideal Couple,” from the early days of television in West Germany, is a phenomenal ratings success. Several couples are presented on the program and each is made to stand in front of a microphone. As soon as one show is over, the search begins for the next “ideal couples.” The producers think they may have found one in Henny Schubert, a commercial-school student, and Harald Wandel, an unemployed graphic artist. But this time it is not so easy. Both suffer from the intrigues of their relatives, who try to sabotage their happiness because they hope their children will make a “better match.” The case of Uschi Marek, a cinema ticket seller, is quite different. She has already had plenty of experience with men, but it has always ended in disappointment. Only after meeting Hans Krümmel, a humble mechanic, does she realize that other things besides physical attractiveness, fun, and pleasure matter when choosing a partner. This rather average-looking man gives her exactly what she has always been looking for: security and sincerity. The case of Wally Engelschalk and Walter Schlüter is quite different again. Wally is what people called in those days an aging spinster, hardly able to attract any man’s interest—a “mousey nobody” who has gradually given up all hope of finding happiness late in life. But then the conscientious secretary meets Walter, who runs a pet shop. He is a bachelor, just as shy and reserved as Wally. Two lonely hearts have found each other. Felicitas Martini and her secret fiancé, Jürgen Busse, are troubled by something else entirely. They are already together and very happy, were it not for Felicitas’s snobbish parents, Dr. Martini and his wife. As an academic, Dr. Martini wants his daughter to make a suitable match—certainly not with a young man who kicks a piece of leather around. Jürgen is a professional soccer player and plays goalkeeper for his club. Even his professional success is no help, since Dr. Martini has no respect for ball-kickers in general. Eventually, however, he has to be shown the error of his ways. In the end, the chosen couples appear on camera on the titular show and present their happiness in love. Only Harald and Henny are missing. They have to overcome one more hurdle of jealousy before they can finally fall into each other’s arms.