Der unsterbliche Lump (1930)

Hans Ritter, a young teacher in a Styrian village, is head over heels in love with Annerl, the daughter of the postman, Reisleitner. Ritter is also talented as a composer, and has submitted one of his operas to the management of the Vienna State Opera, hoping it will be well received. He also hopes that one day it will provide the artistic and financial foundation for a marriage to the pretty postman’s daughter. Ritter therefore leaves for Vienna. But old Reisleitner has “grander” plans for his Anna. He believes Hans will remain penniless forever and looks for a better match for his only daughter. So he simply intercepts all the letters Ritter sends to Annerl. When the young woman hears nothing more from her beloved, she believes Hans has forgotten her and turns to the wealthy farmer Franz Lechner, who has long been interested in Anna. Meanwhile, in Vienna, Ritter’s opera has been accepted, and the aspiring composer believes his dreams are about to come true. Hans then returns to his little Styrian hometown. He arrives in the middle of the wedding celebration. To his horror, Hans discovers that Anna has not waited for him and has become Franz Lechner’s wife. Devastated, Ritter leaves his old home once more. The tremendous success of his opera in Vienna no longer matters to him; from now on, Hans wants only to turn his back on the world. He sets off, and is then robbed by a vagrant. All his papers were in his jacket. When the vagabond is later found dead, people take the penniless man to be the celebrated composer Hans Ritter. Ritter does not correct the mistake, but continues roaming the countryside as the “immortal vagabond.” Life becomes very arduous and exhausting for Ritter, and he lives from hand to mouth. In Italy, he works for a time as a shipyard laborer. Since he has no descendants, the royalties from his successful opera go into the coffers of his hometown municipality. They want to erect a monument in his honor. After five years away, the immortal vagabond secretly slips back into the village. No one recognizes him there. Only Annerl recognizes her Hans at once, despite his ragged clothes; she had never forgotten him. She is a young widow, and after a moment of talking things over, the two decide to travel the world together.