Isola Bella (1961)

Consul Stülcken, owner of the Stülcken shipyard in Hamburg, wants to marry off his pretty daughter Anne, who has been studying art history abroad for years. To move things along, and because he is convinced that Hubert Bergmann, his most capable engineer, would make the right son-in-law, he invites him to spend a holiday at his vineyard in Ticino. Several other young people will be his guests at the same time. Anne, however, wants to take a close look at the marriage candidate her father has chosen before deciding, to make sure he is not interested in her solely because of her father’s wealth. She does not want him to meet her as a diplomat’s daughter. She already has a stand-in daughter ready for her father: Ulrike Renner, a pleasant young woman who is delighted to spend a few days’ holiday in Ticino. When Ulrike tells her brother Götz about her plan, he is anything but pleased. The assembled staff gathers at the vineyard to welcome father and daughter. Among them is Anne, introduced to the consul as the maid Emma Pachulke, who amuses herself by speaking in a broad East Prussian dialect. In the days that follow, various misunderstandings occur. Eva in particular, who has known Anne since she was a little girl, grows suspicious and turns to Dr. Petersen, a cousin of the consul’s, asking him for a photograph of Anne. Stülcken has meanwhile become alarmed to realize that his plan has succeeded—and failed at the same time. Bergmann has fallen in love with his supposed daughter, and Ulrike returns his feelings. Then Anne tells him that she, too, has fallen in love—specifically with Götz Renner, Ulrike’s half-brother. Götz has followed his sister and has deepened his acquaintance with Anne, whom he had already met on a trip to Isola Bella. Of course, Stülcken ultimately approves of the son-in-law Anne presents to him, and he is also pleased by the prospect of grandchildren in the near future.