The Laughing Heir

For Max Ophüls, this was a task (from the Ufa Bureau), a purely routine job. In this film, one can hardly recognize Ophüls’ later works (this film was shot shortly before his masterpiece 'Letter from an Unknown Woman'), but Ophüls still managed to turn this routine work into a tight-paced, uniquely styled, and sometimes extremely entertaining romantic comedy; perhaps he had no choice. The script is quite good, featuring some humorous dialogues. The use of character surnames is simple yet clever. Considering Ophüls, this film can also be seen as a celebration of a carefree life: those living a leisurely and hedonistic lifestyle are in stark contrast to the narrow-minded individuals who are only concerned with punctuality and drinking mineral water. Perhaps this is why the film was banned in 1937: it was considered a potential threat to public order and national socialist sentiments. The cast is strong, with Heinz Rühmann showcasing his innate comedic talent and Max Adalbert excellently portraying the irritable uncle; the supporting roles are also commendable. Chauvinism compels me to particularly mention Liane Dreyfus (in the role of Gina), a talented, charming, and delightful Dutch actress with a successful career in the German film industry.