Kapellmeisters Pflegekind (1915)

At the heart of this moving story is a bandmaster who comes into the “possession” of a small child by chance. Until then, Raninger had led the quiet, exclusively cultured life of a music obsessive—so devoted that he even apologizes to the bust of Ludwig van Beethoven in his cozy home whenever he treats himself to a little glass of liqueur instead of immersing himself in music. Then an entertainer’s mother places her child in his hands because she would rather follow her lover, whom she eventually drives to his death. Meanwhile, the little girl grows up safe and well cared for by Raninger, who looks after her lovingly and lovingly puts together her birthday celebration. Ten years later, when the girl has grown into a young woman, the old bandmaster suffers agonies, tormented by the fear that he might lose his foster child to a young man and heartbreaker. And that is what happens: but when Raninger realizes how well his foster daughter will fare with the man she loves, he lets her go with a heavy, yet also joyful, heart.