FULL Liebling der Götter Movie Germany 1930 Emil Jannings
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Liebling der Götter
- Composer: Willy Schmidt-Gentner, Karl M. May
- Libretto: Robert Liebmann, Hans Müller based on Müller's play The Tokaier (1924)
- Venue & Opera Company: Germany, Austria
- Recorded: 1930
- Type: Movie
- Singers: Marcel Wittrisch
- Conductor:
- Orchestra:
- Stage Director: Hanns Schwarz
- Costume Designer: René Hubert
Information about the Recording
- Published by: UFA
- Date Published: 1930
- Format: Broadcast
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Darling of the Gods is a German artist melodrama by Hanns Schwarz with Emil Jannings and Renate Müller in the leading roles.
Tenor Albert Winkelmann is a celebrated artist, admired by all for his singing skills and with women in particular falling at his feet en masse – in short, he is a “darling of the gods.” His wife Agathe views her bohemian husband’s predilection for the “weaker sex” with some concern. But Winkelmann always knows how to balance everything: on the one hand, he indulges his zest for life, eats and drinks well, lets himself be celebrated and be adored by women. On the other hand, he gives his wife the feeling that meals are served at home and that only she matters to him. Apparently filled with unclouded happiness, the powerful singer does not believe that anything could ever derail his career. But one day, his family doctor, Dr. Marberg, informs him that his health, or more specifically, his heart, is failing. As so often, the cheerful artist ignores this warning with ridicule and scorn, continues to rely on the fact that nothing will happen to him, the darling of the gods, and embarks on a South American tour where he hopes to celebrate even greater triumphs.
But the hot, humid climate there doesn’t suit him at all, and he immediately starts to experience more than just heart palpitations: to make matters worse, his vocal cords also weaken, meaning Winkelmann can no longer sing and has to cut short the tour. Frustrated and deeply depressed, he travels home to Austria. Even his wife doesn’t know how bad his health is. She is happy to finally have him to herself. Winkelmann resists the idea that he will have to retire under these circumstances, whether he likes it or not. Outwardly, he plays the role of a singer who is merely temporarily exhausted, who voluntarily wants to enjoy the peace and quiet at home on Lake Wolfgang and therefore intends to turn down future offers to perform. In reality, however, he continues to yearn for the stage, back into the spotlight. When one day, out of high spirits, he starts singing a song again, his voice suddenly returns. Agathe now realizes that her husband would be miserable as a retiree. His art belongs to everyone, and his world is the stage.