Die fromme Helene (1965)

Frankfurt am Main in the 19th century. As Wilhelm Busch watches the hustle and bustle in the streets, he bumps into a cheeky little girl named Helene, who will inspire one of his best-known stories. Helene has nothing but mischief on her mind. She loves getting into trouble and playing pranks. One moment she scatters itching powder; another, she climbs out of a window at night and dances the cancan in a ballet. Her guardian, prison director Knistig, eventually has enough and sends her to the countryside to stay with her uncle Nolte. As soon as she arrives, she meets Max and Moritz, who, like her, want nothing but to play pranks. Together they go to a marksmen’s festival, where the town’s dignitaries have gathered, including Wilhelm Busch with his sketchbook. The three children devise all sorts of tricks, and in a shooting competition they shoot down a wine-filled balloon directly over Mr. Schmöck, drenching him completely. But Helene is the only one punished; Max and Moritz get away with it. Uncle Nolte has to pay for the damage. To punish her, he locks his niece in the cellar, where Helene has to make paper bags. But Max and Moritz have already come up with a plan and free soot-covered Helene from her captivity via the chimney, while Nolte, in the meantime, is courting the smartly dressed Miss Schmöhle. “Revenge is sweet,” think Max and Moritz, and they begin sawing into the bridge Uncle Nolte has to cross on his way home. Helene, in turn, warns her uncle about this mischief, but makes him promise never to lock her in the cellar again. To make sure he takes her demand seriously, she adds a little blackmail: otherwise, she’ll tell Aunt Pauline about Uncle Nolte’s tête-à-tête with Mamsell Schmöhle… Further excitement awaits Helene with the arrival of her dashing cousin Franz, who has announced that he is coming to visit. At first, though, he shows little interest in Helene and would rather flirt with the kitchen staff, especially Hannchen. Helene hopes to get closer to him at the upcoming marksmen’s ball, but unfortunately she can’t dance. Wilhelm Busch knows what to do: he arranges an open-air dance lesson for her and Max and Moritz. The next day, the three go into town and gain entry to the local theater. They take the costumes they need from the prop room, and, dressed up, Helene plans to appear that evening at the inn where the marksmen’s ball is being held as “Baroness Hohenhausen.” Helene “von Hohenhausen” quickly draws everyone’s attention, including Cousin Franz’s. But once again, Wilhelm Busch immediately recognizes Helene. He keeps quiet, though. Mr. Schmöck, who has appointed himself Helene’s cavalier for the evening, is meanwhile struggling with a fishbone in the kitchen. This gives Cousin Franz the chance to try his luck with the “baroness.” To the great annoyance of Uncle Nolte and Mr. Dralle, he asks Helene to dance. Meanwhile, Max and Moritz are up to mischief again, rubbing Dralle’s daughter Dorchen’s shoes with soft soap under the table. When Dorchen, who has also taken a liking to the handsome Franz, finally gets the chance to dance with him, she slips, falls full-length, and lands under the table. Helene can barely contain her laughter and soon starts wrestling with Dorchen. Mr. Schmöck steps protectively in front of Helene, and in the scuffle she loses her hat veil. Soon everyone realizes who is behind the mask of “Baroness Hohenhausen.” Aunt Pauline faints, Uncle Nolte is horrified, and only Cousin Franz and Wilhelm Busch are amused. The next day, Mr. Schmöck turns up at Uncle Nolte’s and asks for Helene’s hand in marriage. She doesn’t know what to do and asks Busch for advice. In his very distinctive way, he gives her a detailed account of what married life with this gentleman would have in store for her. When Busch casually asks whether it might be better for her to marry Cousin Franz, who is already waiting for her in the next room, she is overjoyed. On the way to the altar, Max and Moritz scatter the flowers. But they wouldn’t be Max and Moritz if they hadn’t already come up with a prank: they’ve mixed sneezing powder in with the flowers…