Das schöne Abenteuer (1924)

Bessy Ferguson is one of those wealthy, pampered young women of the upper class who get bored easily and are looking for a grand adventure. That is why the American has come to Europe to explore the Old Continent on her own, in her own car. To add some excitement to her stay, she has to stop at a railway crossing. She writes the message “Whoever finds me may make one request” on the back of the photograph in her locket, then hurls the locket through an open carriage window of the passing train. It hits the head of the adjutant accompanying a prince. On seeing Bessy’s portrait, he is immediately enchanted and is determined to meet the young woman. His Highness is on his way to Nice with valuable gemstones, which he intends to have set by a jeweler there. Meanwhile, Bessy meets a gallant, though somewhat sleazy, man of the world named Valescu, who makes his living stealing jewels. Thanks to his remarkable ability to change his appearance, this internationally wanted crook has never yet been caught. In Nice, all three main characters meet at a luxury hotel. Valescu, who has his eye on the prince’s jewels, thinks that Bessy is a particularly clever “colleague” and plans to make use of her. Bessy is more than happy to accept his immoral offer to work with him, since, as mentioned, she is looking for a “grand adventure.” When the prince meets her there, they quickly fall for each other. This puts Bessy in a difficult position when Valescu, her trusted companion up to that point, takes the prince captive in order to get his diamonds. But the prince has no intention of handing them over and goes on hunger strike while held hostage by the crook. Bessy is then urged to stop the prince from doing so. Meanwhile, Valescu has taken on a new disguise and assumed the prince’s role, hoping to get closer to his goal of stealing the diamonds. His impersonation is so convincing that even the prince’s adjutant fails to recognize him. In the meantime, Bessy takes advantage of Valescu’s absence to overpower the crook’s accomplice and free His Highness. The prince now insists that she honor the promise made on the locket and asks for the favor of his rescuer, Bessy. She is only too happy to say yes. The crook Valescu, too, does not escape his just fate.