Sweetheart of the Gods

Much underrated German superstar Ruth Leuwerik, who gained enormous popularity as the noble, long suffering heroine of kitschy melodramas was already on the downward slide when she gave her best performance ever.

Cast against type as UFA star Renate Mueller (best remembered for her joyful 'Viktor und Viktoria' and the jolly 'Die Privatsekretaerin', singing 'Ich bin ja heut so gluecklich'), Miss Leuwerik gives the most subtle und quiet impression of the much maligned star. Alas, the only low point in this admirable film comes when Miss Leuwerik tries to sing the catchy tunes of Miss Mueller's trademark song.

Altogether the tricky subject is handled with admirable taste, the script is devoid of lurid details or shrill melodramatics. Instead it's a heart wrenching tale of suffering, loneliness and despair.

Miss Leuwerik had only one good role left to play - the arty and uneven adaptation of 'Die Rote' - when she finally called it a day and retired, with fame and beauty still intact.