Wenn die Abendglocken läuten (1951)

Michael Storm and Rosemarie Brenda grew up together. Even as teenagers, they plan a future together, although Michael, the son of a teacher, is not Rosemarie’s social equal as the daughter of a landowner. One day, Michael saves the high-spirited Rosemarie when she falls into the fast-flowing millstream. Landowner Brenda shows his gratitude by paying for the musically gifted Michael to study music. His studies also mean leaving Rosemarie, but they promise to think of each other whenever the evening bells ring. At first, Michael visits his home village from time to time, but eventually stays away for more than a year because he is taking his studies seriously. After a long absence, he returns to the village for Rosemarie’s birthday, despite his father advising him not to turn up at the Brendas’ home unannounced. In fact, his visit is not welcomed. Rosemarie is happy to see him, but her parents have long since chosen their wealthy neighbor and former tournament rider, Albrecht Finke, as her future husband. They hope he will help the family out of its financial difficulties, which also make it impossible for them to keep supporting Michael. He realizes he is not welcome and voluntarily gives up any further support from the Brendas. Before leaving, however, he meets Rosemarie one more time. She still loves him, and they kiss goodbye. Michael now earns the money for his continuing studies by performing with a dance band that plays mainly his compositions. These catch the attention of Gloria Römer, a publisher’s wife, who is attracted not only to the compositions but also to Michael. She begins to patronize the musicians, but Michael cannot forget Rosemarie. One day, his father visits him and tells him that Rosemarie is going to marry Albrecht Finke. Michael is disappointed. Rosemarie, in turn, is unhappy when Finke proposes to her. When she realizes that her parents have been arranging the match for a long time and intend to “sell” her to Finke, she runs away. She goes to Michael and says she would stay with him if he loved her. In his distress, Michael denies that he does. Because Rosemarie misses the last train home, she spends the night at Michael’s. They sleep together before parting for a long time. Although Rosemarie is pregnant by Michael and wants to call off her wedding to Finke, her mother eventually forces her to marry him. Rosemarie finds some comfort in Michael’s song “When the Evening Bells Ring,” whose sheet music he sent her for her wedding. The song soon becomes popular. Although Michael travels the world, becomes a star, and has numerous affairs, he cannot forget Rosemarie. After four years, he returns to his village and visits Rosemarie at the estate where she lives with Albrecht. She tries to suppress her feelings and act coldly toward Michael. Albrecht is the one who greets Michael warmly. In the end, Rosemarie urges Michael to leave quickly—she wants to prevent him from seeing her daughter Eva. Her behavior shows Albrecht that she still loves Michael. This makes it easier for him to decide to take part in another riding tournament. He knows another tournament could be fatal: he has retained a shrapnel fragment from the war near his left ventricle; it has shifted and is now only a centimeter from his heart. He refuses an operation. He wins the tournament but dies on the field. Michael hears about what happened on the radio and goes to see Rosemarie. Though at first she thinks that Albrecht’s death now stands between them even more strongly than he did while alive, in the end she asks Michael to stay with her and the child. They become a couple.