Liebe, Tod und Teufel (1934)

At a harbor bazaar in the Pacific town of Kona, the young sailor Kiwe is offered a mysterious bottle that supposedly grants its owner power and wealth and fulfills all their wishes. The price to be paid, however, is high. From that moment on, the new owner’s soul belongs to the Devil. If the owner wants to sell the bottle, they must ask less for it than they themselves paid. Already dreaming of prosperity in his thoughts, Kiwe accepts the deal without giving it much thought. And indeed, all his dreams soon come true. Kiwe dreams of money—lots of money. Before long, he is a rich man. But one day the bottle begins to frighten him, and he passes it on. A little later, while traveling, he meets the beautiful Kokua and falls in love with her. The two plan to marry, when Kiwe is struck by an incurable, fatal illness. Now only the bottle could save him, but it cannot be found, since it has passed from one new owner to another ever since. One day, Kiwe has a stroke of luck. He manages to track down its current owner and buys the bottle back—for just one cent! This makes him the bottle’s final owner, because its price cannot be lowered any further. His fate seems sealed, for the last owner has irrevocably pledged himself, body and soul, to the Devil. But Kokua has a way to save him. Why not get rid of this gift from Satan by passing it on to a soul that is already lost? The plan succeeds, and Kiwe and his Kokua lose their earthly prosperity, but now they have a real chance to rebuild their earthly happiness on the true values that make life worth living.