Die Barrings (1955)

East Prussia at the turn of the century. Fried von Barring, the son of an East Prussian estate owner, falls in love with the extravagant Gerda von Eyff, whose family is in financial difficulties. Against his father’s wishes, he marries the demanding, capricious woman. Their married happiness does not last long, because pleasure-loving, high-spirited Gerda carries her extravagance so far that, after the death of old Archibald von Barring, the estate first falls into a severe financial crisis and then even has to be sold. Too late, Fried von Barring realizes that he married the wrong von Eyff, and that her younger sister Gisa would have suited him much better. One day, a serious accident nearly occurs: Gisa is almost run down and trampled to death by galloping horses. At the last moment, Fried saves his sister-in-law from this terrible death. But he himself is badly struck and left lying injured. After a long period of care, Fried must come to terms with the fact that he will probably remain paralyzed for the rest of his life. Before his wife Gerda, who can no longer bear living in East Prussia, moves to Berlin, Fried dies. Gerda, however, now has only one wish: to become a woman of high society in the capital of the Reich.