Der keusche Adam (1950)

Marei Gullner marries Stefan, the young farmer of the Mooshof. It is her second marriage, after her first husband was taken from her at an early age. Georg, a fairly well-off farmer who was also interested in Marei, tells Stefan that the Gullner farmer gave Stefan’s father money to clear his farm of debt, since Stefan had always made it clear that he would ask for Marei’s hand only if he were the equal of the Gullner farmer’s daughter, who came from a wealthy family. Hurt and angry at this revelation, Stefan tells Marei that although he is her husband on paper, he will not consummate the marriage. Marei, who has genuine feelings for the young farmer, is disappointed and hurt, and withdraws as well. Marei’s sister Stasi fears that she will never find a husband and decides to give fate a helping hand. She places an advertisement seeking a man to marry. The elderly Misses Mena and Emerenz, who take advantage of the simple-minded wandering journeyman Adam’s good nature, discover Stasi’s ad, which mentions a substantial dowry, and decide that Adam should present himself at the farm. However, they let the marriage-shy man believe that the farm is looking for a hired hand. Adam runs into Stasi and tells her that he has come in response to the advertisement. Since she thinks he means her marriage ad, confusion and complications are inevitable. Georg continues trying to sow discord between Marei and Stefan so that he can still win the young woman for himself, and repeatedly makes accusations about Stefan to Marei, further straining the young couple’s relationship. Each time they try to draw closer, strongly attracted to one another as they are, their attempts are thwarted again. In the end, Adam is the one who sets both Stefan and Marei straight and ensures that they finally become a real couple. By now, Adam is also no longer averse to getting involved with Stasi.