Rennfieber (1918)

Knesebeck, a house servant at the Braun & Co. firm, is a passionate gambler. Whenever he can, he spends his time at the racecourse. Since the firm’s apprentice, Fritz Kleinke, has good luck at gambling, Knesebeck likes to keep the young man by his side. Before long, Fritz no longer wants to be merely old Knesebeck’s lucky charm and goes to the racecourse on his own to bet his own money. And indeed, he keeps winning. One day, when his boss has come along too, Fritz persuades him to bet on number 6, saying that it is sure to win. Fritz puts down the considerable sum of 500 marks and wins once again. But Fritz is taken with more than just the swift horses: he is also completely enchanted by his boss’s daughter, Alice. The stable owner Hahn has his eye on her too. Meanwhile, Fritz has amassed so much money that it is worth opening a bank account for the first time. His boss notices this as well, as he is currently in financial trouble. Before long, Kleinke is also involved in Braun & Co.’s business affairs, and decides that the time is right to ask for Alice’s hand in marriage. Her father agrees, and the two young people marry. Hahn is furious that the little company clerk has snatched his dream bride from under his nose, and now hatches a plot against Kleinke. He rigs a bet that causes Fritz to lose a great deal of money, after which Fritz has to promise Alice that he will never gamble again. Soon, financial difficulties lead Fritz to break his promise, and his disappointed wife leaves him. Fritz is inconsolable over this loss and throws himself even more into his work. The firm sends him abroad. Before leaving the country, he asks his wife, from whom he is not yet divorced, to meet him once more. Alice, who still loves him, cannot say no, and the two reconcile. The scheming villain Hahn gets his just deserts: while out riding, he falls from his horse and breaks his neck.