Durchlaucht Hypochonder (1918)

The story is set in the Biedermeier era, with all its dreamlike principalities and bored petty rulers. In one of these operetta-like little states, Princess Lisa once lived, keeping the whole court—from the gardener to her personal physician—on its toes with her capricious, unpredictable ways. She is always coming up with something new to get on everyone’s nerves. Since she also pretends to be susceptible to any unwanted excitement, immediately coming down with migraines and the like, she soon earns the nickname “Her Serene Highness the Hypochondriac.” Her husband, Prince Dago of Doratzo, has grown used to it, but one day even he feels the princess is taking things too far. This time, “La Serenissima” has let the boredom of the little residence drive her to a truly harebrained idea: to stir up some excitement, she claims to be longing for death. So she asks her best friend to look after her husband once Lisa has really played the “dying swan,” so that Dago won’t be left alone. Princess Lolo and Prince Dago play along, and while Lisa is still alive they begin to flirt intensely with each other—which does not please the supposedly death-obsessed princess at all. And so all of a sudden, Her Serene Highness the Hypochondriac feels the full vigor of life return, and she wants to fight for her husband. In the end, everything happens exactly as Dago and Lolo had planned, and Her Serene Highness the Hypochondriac is finally cured of her foolish notions.