Wenn Poldi ins Manöver zieht (1956)

Franz Stadler is an exemplary soldier and is practically engaged to Bertha, the daughter of Sergeant Krummbein. A military exercise is announced, and Franz’s 69th Infantry Regiment intends to be especially disciplined this time, having already lost 14 exercises against the opposing regiment. Franz’s superior has the exercise plans, and the enemy is supposed to get them from Engineer Thomas. Thomas is currently traveling by train to Juliendorf, where he is to be quartered. On the train, he meets the young Liesl and protects her from two bothersome gentlemen, one of whom kisses her while they are passing through a tunnel. Liesl thinks Thomas kissed her, slaps him, and is now decidedly hostile toward him. By coincidence, they both end up at the same hotel in Juliendorf, and the simple-minded Poldi even puts them in the same room without Liesl realizing it. Thomas, meanwhile, secretly gets into the double bed, and Liesl drives him out during the night. As he flees, however, Thomas accidentally takes her suitcase, leaving the exercise plans behind. The next day, Liesl brings his suitcase to him at the barracks and leaves after arranging to meet him at a café. In the meantime, Franz Stadler has secretly left the regiment, with his future son-in-law covering for him, to visit his father in Juliendorf. He is supposed to arrange a sale for his father. At the same time, he wants to talk to him about marrying Bertha and get his approval. He must be back with the regiment within a very short time, as leave is forbidden because of the upcoming exercise. On his way to the business partner, however, Franz runs over a breeding bull and is arrested. When his absence is noticed in Juliendorf, they reluctantly send Franz’s twin brother to the regiment—Poldi, the dim-witted one. So foolish that he is cheeky, Poldi recognizes neither Krummbein nor Bertha and immediately gets Dr. Swoboda, the regimental doctor, to certify him as unfit for duty. The doctor is puzzled that Franz has changed so completely, but believes he has discovered a new illness. He also pulls one of Poldi’s molars—the one that had been causing Franz pain. To study the illness “in the wild,” Poldi ultimately has to take part in the exercise. When the regiment sets out, Franz is also released from prison. Unrecognized, he joins the exercise. Although his regiment soon believes it will have to admit defeat for the 15th time, with Poldi’s unwitting help Franz manages to steal the opposing regiment’s bugle, thereby winning the trophy that signifies the other side’s defeat. Franz is now considered a hero, and Dr. Swoboda, who shortly beforehand had given Poldi an injection of a cure for stupidity, is convinced of his medicine—especially since the molar that had already been pulled seems to have grown back for Franz as well. Several couples get their happy ending: Thomas and Liesl become a couple, Franz gets engaged to Bertha, and Poldi and Rosel, the simple cook, also fall in love.