Wien, du Stadt der Lieder (1930)

The pretty Steffi Korn, the blonde daughter of a Viennese musical-instrument dealer, and Pepi Pokorny, an unemployed musician, can only get engaged in secret because both sets of parents oppose their relationship. Steffi’s father, Korn, thinks the master butcher Burgstaller would be a much better match, especially since Burgstaller has had his eye on Steffi for quite some time. Burgstaller’s saleswoman Ilona is not at all pleased about this, as she would dearly love to land her boss herself. Burgstaller and Korn have something else in common: they currently share a lottery ticket and firmly believe in their luck. Cäsar Grün, a typesetter at a newspaper, has a score to settle with Burgstaller. Grün has already made himself a nuisance several times while people were playing cards at Frau Bock’s café. He is constantly kibitzing, and has already received a stinging slap for it, followed by being thrown out. Now the man is bent on revenge. As a typesetter, he knows how to slip a convincing newspaper hoax into the paper. Grün promptly inserts a report claiming that the number on Burgstaller and Korn’s ticket has been drawn for the jackpot. The butcher is beside himself with excitement, buys a luxury car, and, in his exuberance, gives his business to his employee Ilona. Now he is sure he can finally marry Steffi. Convinced that his share of the lottery winnings is assured, Korn has also gone on a spending spree and completely refurnished his apartment. They celebrate the big lottery win at a Heuriger in Grinzing, but the wine, women, and song party ends with an argument among some of those present. The next morning, everyone has a hangover of a very special kind. Grün’s newspaper hoax comes to light, and the dismay is great: Burgstaller has lost his business, and Steffi still does not want to marry him. In fact, she and Pepi are the lottery winners. Now the two can finally marry. Ilona, the new owner of the shop, proves to be kind-hearted, however, because she has no intention of taking over the butcher’s business that was signed over to her. Only then does Burgstaller realize what a valuable asset he has in his best saleswoman.