Devil's Mistress (Lída Baarová)

I have loved a criminal.

But that's not a crime.

Kiss me, my girl. Kiss me now

Kiss me, and look me in the eyes

No one can resist your beauty

I like you so much. Can't you tell?

Kiss me, my girl. Kiss me now

Kiss me. Do not shun love

Your eyes are so seductive

Come here, girl. Come closer to me

Well this here is Adina.

Adina Mandlová.

And this is me.

And this here is Ljuba Hermanová.

I don't know, but I think this is going to be the last conversation

I will ever have. I'm not sure why I agreed to it.

Maybe you have a yearning for the Czech language.

Are you in touch with any fellow countrymen at all?

Well, there are plenty of Czechs here in Salzburg, but...

I don't really go out anymore.

Right. Let's start.

In Czechoslovakia you were already famous in the 1930s.

You were young, beautiful and idolized by men.

You had a brilliant career ahead of you.

But in 1934 everything changed dramatically, didn't it?

Responsible for that was Miloš Havel, proprietor of the Barrandov Studios.

My mother wanted to realize her unfilled desire of being an actress through me.

That's why she was thrilled when Havel finally invited us into his office.

The day after tomorrow you'll be expected at the UFA Studios.

In Babelsberg.

So we did it.

Miloš.

Your partner will be either Rolf Wanka or Gustav Fröhlich.

Gustav Fröhlich?

All of Prague is at your feet.

Now you can take Berlin by storm.

I want to go to the academy of music too, but I'll never be as good as you.

Zorka, you could be better than me.

But you have to work at it and not let anyone push you aside.

Being successful is a struggle.

It's a struggle?

A struggle.

Girls, go to sleep.

What is it, Papa?

What is it'?

When did you grow so tall'?

Not long ago we were pushing you around in a baby carriage.

I will miss you. Do you know that?

Mama wants you to be successful so badly, but...

I'm not so sure it's a good thing you're going there.

Ah Well...

In Czechoslovakia you're a movie star, Líduška.

Behave accordingly.

I never managed to have a career,

as you know.

So now you will make my dream come true.

Right. Bye.

The lighting's set. Make-up, get over here!

Last preparations!

Set camera! Get out of the frame!

I beg you, please get out of the frame.

Director! Yes, Lída?

I thought my partner was going to be Gustav Fröhlich?

You don't approve of Rolf Wanka? No, that's not what I meant.

We're getting started. It's just...

Quiet!

Quiet please, we're rolling.

Everyone ready?

Roll camera!

Mark it. Rehearsal "Barcarole", take one!

Action!

What?

Please answer me! That

there was nothing until now but bleak, barren nothingness.

In for a penny,

in for a pound.

Pound.

Fund'?

Cut!

"Pound", you see? Miss, try and get it right. "Pound".

That's Lída Baarová. Try to give it a wider sound. "Pound".

Pound. There, you see?

Let's take it from the top, okay?

Pound? Roll camera!

Rehearsal "Barcarole", take two.

And action! In for a penny,

in for a pound.

Pund.

Pound. Cut!

Once more. And please try to pronounce it right. "Pound".

Okay?

So, once more. Quiet, please!

"Pound." - Roll camera. Rehearsal "Barcarole", take three.

And action! In for a penny, in for a pound.

Pond. Pond?

Cut! If she concentrates on the pronunciation, she forgets to act.

It's useless. She's too distraught now.

Mama, they're laughing at me.

They may be laughing at you now,

but one day they will bow down before you.

Come on.

Good day.

Miloš Havel ensured me Baarová could speak German.

The little doe is absolutely enchanting, Correll.

Who's idea was it anyway to cast Wanka as "Count Colloredo"?

He speaks with a Viennese accent!

Originally we wanted Gustav Fröhlich, but his financial demands were...

Fröhlich is a star. Pay him!

It'll be worth our while. So what about Baarová?

You got her over here, Mr. Correll. Don't ask me.

According to the script "Giacinta" is Italian.

It demands a dark-haired type. Miss Baarová would be perfect for it.

But I don't know if she can manage with the lines. - What do you say, Miss Hahn?

Miss Baarová speaks German with a typical Prague accent.

She has to get rid of the accent and learn the proper intonation.

It can be done.

The hat.

Hat.

My hat,

it is three-cornered.

Three-cornered is my hat.

And if it isn't three-cornered, it cannot be my hat.

Would he come from Oberammergau, or would he come from Unterammergau,

or would he come at all? It was uncertain.

Please. My hat, it is threecornered.

Three-cornered is my hat. And if it isn't three-cornered,

it cannot be my hat.

Faster! Hans is coming home, Lies is happy...

Would he come from Oberammergau, or would he come from Unterammergau,

or... Faster, faster!

If Elisabeth's legs weren't as pretty...

Faster still!

A pug spotted a bowl of milk and took an enormous gulp.

The cook grabbed himself a ladle and beat it to a pulp.

Now that's a great start.

Her German is okay. Now have her sing and dance.

Now please sing something for us and dance with it.

What makes the Rhine so beautiful?

What makes the Rhine so beautiful?

What makes the Rhine so beautiful?

What makes the Rhine so beautiful?

The Rhine so beautiful?

Because the girls are so trusty

And the boys are so thirsty

Because the girls are so trusty And the boys are so thirsty

Because the girls are so trusty And the boys are so thirsty

That makes the Rhine so beautiful

The Rhine

SO

beautiful!

Bravo! Very good!

Beautiful. Beautiful!

They engaged me.

Barcarole...

We start at 7:37 in studio 4.

Mr. Fröhlich?

Ah, Miss Baarová, at last! It is an honor.

I've seen all your movies.

I'm looking forward to working with you.

So do I.

You look wonderful there.

But a little tame for a lover, don't you think?

Ah, you've already met!

Our young actress is very talented

and extraordinarily observant. A good choice.

Congratulations! Thank you.

Lída is the best of all Czech actresses. This will be her first German movie.

Lída, please get ready.

Shall we go?

Take two identical ones, okay?

Suddenly my girlhood dream came true.

I was in front of the camera with Gustav Fröhlich.

And action!

It was beautiful, wasn't it?

Giacinta,

aren't you afraid it will never again be this beautiful?

No.

It will always be increasingly beautiful.

Increasingly beautiful. Yes.

I'm just a little tired, you know? Cut.

We're doing this scene for the 5th time.

There's really no other way to tell you this, Miss Baarová, but your accent...

Don't you think you're overreacting?

She plays an Italian. She can have a small accent. Just let her talk.

It sounds unnatural. But most charming.

If it doesn't bother you...

Once more from the top.

Thank you. There's no need to thank me.

I have reasons of my own.

.

I had come to take Berlin by storm, and soon Gustav Fröhlich,

film star and idol of all German women,

invited me to dinner. That was my first triumph.

At the time everyone admired Fröhlich.

It did me a lot of good to be by his side.

Please.

I'm Gustl.

Lída.

Is everything to your satisfaction, Sir?

As always, Mr. Katz. As always. But please tell me,