Strafsache van Geldern (1932)

Paulus van Geldern is a lawyer who has made a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney, but is chronically short of money because of his unrestrained passion for gambling. His estranged wife, Martha, on the other hand, has had some success: the former revue star owns a thriving fashion boutique, frequented by celebrities. She also occasionally accepts jewelry in exchange for merchandise. One of Martha’s customers is her friend Loni Behrend, who is planning just such a trade: her diamond brooch in exchange for an evening dress. Loni’s lover, Gert Roßmann, is supposed to bring the piece of jewelry to the boutique when Martha receives an urgent phone call. Paulus confesses that he has once again lost a large sum gambling—this time to Prince Bavaritse. He gave the prince his word of honor that he would come up with the money by the following day. Van Geldern says he desperately needs Martha’s help, since the loss threatens his livelihood. But Martha is no longer willing to take responsibility for the consequences of her husband’s gambling addiction, especially given that he has started an affair with Greta von Heerström, the manager of Martha’s salon. Martha herself is also having an affair—with her housekeeper, Minna Müller. In a curt tone, Martha rejects Paulus’s request and also dismisses Greta from her employment. Paulus decides to make one last attempt and goes to see his wife early in the evening of May 5. He hopes to persuade Martha to lend him the money he so urgently needs. A loud argument breaks out, which even the housekeeper Minna, who has already gone to bed around 7 p.m., hears. She hears several screams and hurries to the room from which the noise is coming. There, Minna sees the hated Paulus leaning over his dead wife. Martha van Geldern has been stabbed to death, and all her jewelry is gone. The police arrest Paulus van Geldern as their chief suspect. When the professional criminal Willi Vogel hears of the arrest, he immediately takes action. The master burglar, currently serving time in Berlin-Tegel prison, owes van Geldern a great deal: the capable defense attorney had saved him from a much longer prison sentence at his last trial. Vogel, a convict with a code of honor, breaks out of prison. He asks all the fences he knows whether anyone has offered them jewelry belonging to the late Martha van Geldern. He hopes this will lead him to the real murderer. He also frees van Geldern from pretrial detention, though the latter is reluctant to come along. Willi Vogel’s efforts pay off, and he finds the jewelry with a fence named Schleich. But Schleich shoots him when he realizes that Vogel is being pursued by the police. Seriously wounded, Vogel drags himself into a room, where he soon dies. Things still do not look good for van Geldern, who has by now been arrested again: the housekeeper Minna cannot stand the unfaithful husband of her murdered lover and gives damning testimony against him. Two children who saw a man running out of the house after the murder also give contradictory accounts and cannot clear van Geldern. However, court reporter Lerse’s work brings about a sensational turn in the case against van Geldern. He follows up on the children’s testimony, and it turns out that Prince Bavaritse is the murderer and the thief who stole the jewelry. Van Geldern is acquitted and can now begin a future together with his new love, Greta.