Gitarren der Liebe (1954)

The musicians Gisa, Walter, Paul, and Tom, who call themselves “The Hot Four,” drive to Italy in a clunky old car, hoping to make it big there. When the car breaks down yet again, a local man, Roberto Trenti, comes to their rescue. He fixes the vehicle in no time. But before getting back on his bicycle, he gives the four a tip: they should come to Venticasi the following Sunday. His former girlfriend is marrying the mayor there, and the occasion might offer a chance to earn some money. At the wedding reception, Roberto causes a scandal by performing a song that is anything but flattering to the bride and groom. The mayor then sets out to throw the singer into the dried-up riverbed, but because of his own clumsiness, he ends up there himself. As the outraged wedding guests are about to pounce on Roberto, he quickly makes off with the “Hot Four.” On a small bridge, the five encounter a large touring car coming toward them, forcing both vehicles to stop. The passenger is the famous singer Ilona Mirko. On behalf of the concert agent Bernardo, she is searching for a natural talent named Roberto Trenti, who is supposed to replace her on the tour with the Mantovani Orchestra, since she wants to withdraw from her contract for personal reasons. Roberto falls head over heels in love with the young woman, but does not reveal who he is. He drives on with his newly made friends, having joined them as a singer and not wanting to let them down. Ilona eventually manages to track him down, but he insists that he cannot do otherwise than keep his word to his fellow musicians. After Roberto and Ilona share their first kiss during an outing together, he promises to think again about the opportunity the contract would offer him and to discuss it with his friends. Meanwhile, Fred Jacques, with whom Ilona had signed her contract without knowing it, tries to interfere in her life again by convincing Roberto that she had only charmed him because she needed a replacement and was a calculating person. In fact, he is the reason Ilona does not want to honor her contract, since he has treated her badly once before. He also withholds a letter from Ilona to Roberto in which she asks him to meet with her in person, sealing the rift between them. Then, however, Mantovani and Bernardo personally intervene and bring everything to a happy conclusion. At his first major performance, Roberto not only achieves remarkable success; more importantly to him, Ilona stands onstage with him, and together they sing the love waltz.