When American Laura Nash is released from a German prison, she is desperate to see her lover, Nicky, but cannot get the money to pay for his release from prison as well. At a beer garden, Karen can’t pay for her meal, but is touched by the kindness of the Polikai, a waiter and wrestling champion, who settles the bill for her. Meeting again later that night, Polikai lets Karen stay at his place above the beer garden. Soon Polikai falls in love with her and proposes marriage, through his friend Herman, but Karen still yearns for Nicky, even though she is fond of Polikai. One night Polikai catches her trying to steal his money, but when she explains that she needs it to get her “brother” out of jail, he offers to help her. The next day Polikai brings Nicky back with him. Laura wants to leave with Nicky, but when she tells him that she is pregnant, he sneaks away after telling Polikai that he needs money to go to their sick mother in America. Karen marries Polikai and when her child is born, he thinks that he is the father. Because she is homesick for America, he takes her there, hoping to get the wrestling championship of the world. When Nicky comes into their lives again, Karen is at first cool to him. He sets up a series of crooked matches for Polikai, which he refuses but Laura talks him into it after Nicky slaps her into compliance. Soon Polikai has become a contender for the title, but begins to drink. Laura remorsefully tries to tell him the truth and begins to care for him, but when she tries to sober him up to win a match, Nicky begins to beat her. Just then Polikai wakes up and strangles Nicky. Polikai then wins the grueling match, after which he is arrested for Nicky’s murder. Laura visits him in prison and tells him that everyone is behind him and that the district attorney thinks that everything will be all right. She says that she will go away to prevent him from being hurt further, but as their hands clasp, he calls her “Liebchen.” More on Wikipedia
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