Eine Nacht im Mai (1938)

Because of her reckless driving, Inge Fleming is ordered to attend a driver-improvement course. After disrupting the lessons several times, she is expelled and her driver’s license is revoked. Nevertheless, she uses her car to get home and is promptly involved in a minor accident caused by a wrong-way driver. The other driver is named Waldemar Becker. Fearing that she will be arrested for driving without a license when the police investigate the accident, Inge flees the scene. She borrows 50 Reichsmarks from her maid, Johanna, for a train ticket and, in a panic, plans to escape to Paris, but misses the train. In the crush at the station, she meets a man named Willy Prinz, who seems very interested in her and refuses to be put off even when Inge acts coldly toward him. Since she can no longer get out of the country, however, she eventually gives in to the attractive, charming stranger, whom she believes is not merely called Prinz but is a prince as well. They go on a bus excursion together, which takes them to Wannsee, where a costume ball is being held on the night in May that gives the film its title. Inge is quite shocked to spot Waldemar Becker there, as he also intends to attend the ball. To make matters worse, Willy and Waldemar are old friends. Waldemar, who is married, has come with a female friend. To avoid the trouble that seems imminent, Inge and Willy head to the other side of Wannsee. After a swim, Inge and Waldemar happen to run into each other again. Further complications ensue, and Inge and Willy are separated on the bus ride back. Since Willy does not know Inge’s surname, he cannot find her again in Berlin. Days later, chance brings the two young people together again at a hotel run by Inge’s father and grandfather. Willy Prinz works there, much to Inge’s temporary disappointment, not as a genuine aristocrat but simply as a waiter. Inge overcomes her pride when she realizes that Willy is a fine fellow, and the two get together.