Münchhausen in Afrika (1958)

Peter von Münchhausen works as a music teacher at a private girls’ school. He shares at least one thing with his famous ancestor, the legendary Baron Munchausen: a vivid imagination—though not the Baron’s bold nature. After a wild, musical performance during a geography lesson, in which his musical talent gets the better of him, Peter is summarily dismissed by the headmistress. Hoping to present some pieces he has composed to a television network, Peter gets caught up in a live broadcast by mistake and is introduced as an expert on African music. With considerable musical skill, he manages to get himself out of this predicament and hurriedly leaves the television studio. His television appearance, however, earns him another job: working for Karla Mai, a bestselling author. Peter is to accompany her, her son Karlchen, whom he tutors privately, and her secretary Josefine on a trip to Africa as their tour guide. The rather shy musician has been devoted to Josefine ever since he first saw her. When the group arrives in Nairobi, they meet two men claiming to be big-game hunters, who offer to help them. In reality, however, the two are the wanted crooks Revolver-Bill and Knacker-Jan. With Josefine, Karla, and Karlchen Mai in tow, Peter embarks on a series of dramatic adventures. He has to contend not only with wild animals but also to pose as a medicine man in order to heal a tribal chief’s daughter. In the end, Peter and Karlchen manage to capture the two crooks, Bill and Jan, and hand them over to the authorities. At the end of his African safari, Peter not only collects the reward for capturing the two villains but also celebrates his personal happiness with Josefine, whose heart he has won.