Va banque (1920)

Hella Wulff is the daughter of the wealthy racehorse owner M. S. Wulff. The spirited young woman loves Herbert von Hochberg, a horse trainer employed by her father. But because Herbert belongs to the impoverished nobility, her father insists that she marry the equally aristocratic and wealthy Prince Isenburg. Herbert then finds another employer and becomes stable manager for Count Plessen. He is to buy racehorses worth 500,000 marks for him. But then Herbert makes a grave mistake and gambles away the entire sum entrusted to him at the gaming table—against none other than the prince, Hella’s husband. In despair, Hochberg turns to Hella, who immediately gathers up her jewelry, eager to help, so she can sell it. But the amount is too large, so she turns for help to her father’s unscrupulous nephew, Krojanker, of all people. He makes his unprincipled “helpfulness” clear, saying in a greasy undertone, “You can have the money, but you’ll have to collect it from my office this afternoon.” Hella then tries to find the money for Hochberg by other means, so his embezzlement won’t lead Count Plessen to have Herbert arrested. But it is no use; Hella’s father also proves hardhearted. Hella sees no other way than to bite the bullet and go to Krojanker. As Herbert writes a farewell letter to Hella in one final act of desperation, M. S. Wulff arrives. He offers Herbert the money in exchange for Herbert disappearing from Hella’s sight forever. Hochberg, still a man of honor despite his embezzlement, refuses, whereupon Wulff leaves. Hochberg instructs his servant to deliver the letter to Hella and reaches for a revolver to shoot himself. Suddenly Krojanker appears in the doorway, the rescue money in his hand. It is quite obvious that Hella has given herself to him. But it is too late, and a shot rings out. Herbert von Hochberg’s desperate gamble has ended tragically.