The attractive Oberleutnant Paul Wendlandt is stationed in North Africa as a fighter pilot. While in Berlin to deliver a report he is given a day's leave, and on the stage of the cabaret theatre "Skala" sees the popular Danish singer Hanna Holberg. For Paul it is love at first sight. When Hanna visits friends after the end of the performance, he follows her, and speaks to her in the U-Bahn. After the party in her friends' flat, he accompanies her home and chance throws them further together when an air raid warning forces them to take cover in the air raid shelter. Hanna reciprocates Paul's feelings, but after a night spent together Paul has to return immediately to the front. There now follows a whole series of misunderstandings, and one missed opportunity after another. While Hanna waits in vain for some sign of life from Paul, he is flying on missions in North Africa. When he tries to visit her in her Berlin flat, she is giving a Christmas concert in Paris.
Acting
Zarah Leander's megastar charisma transcends the material.
Production
Lavish UFA sets pretending war isn't hell.
Score
Leander's torch songs that outlive the ideology.
Director
Rolf Hansen
Zarah Leander
Hanna Holberg
Grethe Weiser
Kaethe, Hannas Zofe
Viktor Staal
Paul Wendlandt
Paul Hörbiger
Alexander Rudnitzky, Komponist
Wolfgang Preiss
Oberleutnant von Etzdorf
Victor Janson
Theaterdirektor Mocelli
Leopold von Ledebur
Herr Westphal
Julia Serda
Frau Westphal
Paul Bildt
Unfreundlicher Oberkellner
Erich Dunskus
Mann, der den Staffelhund mitbringt
Agnes Windeck
Hannas Mutter
Olga Engl
Alte Dame im Mietshaus
Jakob Tiedtke
Hauswart
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zarah Leander was Nazi Germany's biggest star despite Swedish citizenship; Hitler personally courted her. She later claimed ignorance.
The film premiered days after Stalingrad's defeat, making its optimistic military romance unintentionally tragic.
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