Der Kahn der fröhlichen Leute (1950)

Marianne Butenschön tends her parents’ grave at the cemetery. Her father has been dead for almost six months, and she has inherited his motor barge, the Eintracht. As always, she turns down the help offered by Michel, an engineer who works aboard the tugboat Sturmvogel and has approached her here several times before. She also refuses the offer from boatman Zinke to buy the barge. She is determined to go back on the river as its owner. Several applications for a special permit are rejected because she is only 19 and therefore still a minor. So she has asked her uncle August to come from Hamburg and take over her guardianship; he also has the required boatmaster’s license. But it is not that simple, because Uncle August has so far worked only on sailing ships and knows nothing about engines. In town, however, he meets Michel and immediately hires him. Otto, the shipowner Michel works for, agrees, since his tug is currently in the shipyard. Marianne is not really happy with the decision, but sees no other way to get back on the river. On the trip down the Elbe to Hamburg, where they can load cargo, the already peeled potatoes accidentally go overboard, so Marianne and Michel go ashore to buy more. When Marianne sees an announcement for a dance, she wants to go at once. There, the three musicians Hans, Heinrich, and Hugo perform their song, “Come on, let’s play, let’s play, let’s play Number 13 in the Love Lottery.” While Michel first takes care of the drinks at the bar, Hans asks the young woman to dance, which annoys Michel. But then he and Marianne dance together after all, and they have a lovely evening. On the way home, Michel tries to kiss her and gets slapped for it, which is reason enough for him to leave Marianne’s barge. The next morning, the trio of musicians, looking for a ride to Hamburg, passes the Eintracht. Since Hans claims to know something about engines, they are welcomed aboard. By chance, he even manages to get the engine running. Just before a bridge, the Eintracht runs aground on a sandbank and is unable to maneuver. Fortunately, the Sturmvogel, with Michel aboard, comes by. Michel is brought onto the Eintracht and manages to repair the failed engine after Hans has proved unsuccessful. The three musicians now try to make themselves useful in other ways: they help in the kitchen, do the laundry, and give the old barge a fresh coat of paint. Once in Hamburg, Marianne tries to find a cargo for her vessel. Boatman Zinke has already asked for the same cargo, and because he can use his connections and charges below the set rate, there is nothing left for her. But she fights for the cargo and gets it—and at the set rate, too. Zinke tries to turn the other boatmen against her, but after the matter is explained, they take Marianne’s side. The musicians want to beat Zinke up, and find him in the next pub. Michel, whose ship has also arrived in Hamburg, is there as well. A huge pub brawl breaks out, until the police intervene. As soon as the pub owner sees how much the patrons enjoy the trio’s music, he hires them on the spot. Hans and Michel make up, since the musicians are leaving the barge and Hans is therefore no longer a rival. Michel returns to the Eintracht; it is clear that he and Marianne are in love.