NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Flicker Alley Blu-ray (August 2025): Flicker Alley have transferred four musical comedies from the late years of the Weimar Republic to two Blu-rays. They are Die Privatsekretärin (The Private Secretary) (1931,) Der brave Sünder (The Upright Sinner) (1931,) Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. (The Trunks of Mr. O.F.) (1931) and Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht (I By Day, You By Night) (1932.) They are prefaced with these text screen about the restorations:

"DIE PRIVATESEKRETÄRIN (THE PRIVATE SECRETARY) (1931) was a critical and commercial success upon release, turning Renate Müller into a star. After her tragic death on October 7, 1937, the Nazi authorities recalled all existing prints, likely destroying the original negative. This reconstruction of the film is based on two 16mm prints of varying image quality from the Library of Congress collection and is identical to a now-deteriorated original nitrate print source, down to a few meters. Audio restoration was completed in 2023 at CINE-AUDIO & Media Services in Munich."

"DER BRAVE SÜNDER (THE UPRIGHT SINNER) (1931) was restored in 2018 by the Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum (DFF) from a 35mm picture duplicate negative and a 35mm optical sound negative, both preserved by Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv, Berlin. Materials were scanned and finished in 2K with visible image damage corrected manually and noise and dirt filters applied discreetly so as not to affect any important image information."

"DIE KOFFER DES HERRN O.F. (THE TRUNKS OF MR. O.F.) (1931) was distributed in different versions: a long original version and a short version. During the Third Reich, the film was initially no longer shown because of satirical political songs by Erich Kästner and the involvement of Jewish actors. Later, the film was edited down to the pure plot and exploited as a short feature film without opening credits and songs. In 2015 Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung undertook a full restoration, with the aim of recreating the original, premiere version. 35mm materials from various sources were combined for this purpose. This restoration was completed with the support of Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) German Federal Film Board.
Color grading was completed at ARRI Laboratories, Berlin."

"ICH BEI TAG UND DU BEI NACHT (I BY DAY, YOU BY NIGHT) (1932) Iderives from a 35mm, first-generation nitrocellulose print and corresponding dupe negative, given by the Gosfilmofond Russia to Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive) and subsequently acquired by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung. In 2014, these materials were the basis of a new 2K resolution scan by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung with the support of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)."

Generally these films look less stable in the first 10-minutes or so and are fraught warping, speckles, scratches, marks and frame-specific damage (see example's below.) The Private Secretary is the weakest (muddier) of the four but each have appealing textures. The Trunks of Mr. O.F. looks, relatively, impressive and contrast does occasionally flicker and there are visible rounded corners in spots but I was pleased to simply see the films and accepted the imperfections enjoy the rare cinema.

NOTE: We have added 124 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Flicker Alley use DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original German language. Even with the limitations of the original productions the transfers faithfully reproduces the lively musical numbers, and period-appropriate effects that capture the transitional essence of early talkies. While 1930s recordings - occasional hiss or narrow dynamic range - are present, the restorations minimize distortions, ensuring the operetta-style songs and comedic timing shine through without modern over-processing. The overall sonic fidelity supports the films' satirical tones, from the bustling urban noises in Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht to the orchestral swells in Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. Overall, predictably weak by modern standards but audible enough to enjoy the films. Flicker Alley offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Flicker Alley Blu-ray package features scholarly audio commentaries for each film that provide deep contextual insights into Weimar-era cinema, economics, and culture: Lukas Foerster's (he publishes regularly in the newspaper ”taz”, the film magazine ”cargo” and the web magazine ”perlentaucher”) track on Die Privatsekretärin explores its restoration and gender dynamics; Nadine Rossol (Performing the Nation in Interwar Germany: Sport, Spectacle and Political Symbolism, 1926–36,) with Foerster's input, on Der brave Sünder delves into historical corruption themes; Professor Anjeana Hans (Warning Shadows) on Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. analyzes its satirical absurdity, discusses Peter Lorre, Hedy Lamarr and more; and Christian Rogowski (The Many Faces of Weimar Cinema: Rediscovering Germany's Filmic Legacy) on Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht discusses its influence on later works like The Apartment. Complementing these are a souvenir booklet with an essay by Foerster, reversible cover artwork for collector appeal enriches appreciation of these Blu-ray package with these once-obscure titles.

The four films - Die Privatsekretärin (The Private Secretary, 1931), Der brave Sünder (The Virtuous Sinner, 1931), Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. (The Trunks of Mr. O.F., 1931), and Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht (I By Day, You By Night, 1932) - represent a microcosm of late Weimar Republic cinema, particularly its penchant for lighthearted comedies that veiled sharp social commentary beneath layers of farce, romance, and musical interludes. Produced during the height of the Great Depression in Germany, when unemployment soared to over six million and hyperinflation's scars lingered, these UFA-backed films emerged from the Babelsberg Studios as escapist fare for audiences grappling with economic despair and political instability. Directed by a cadre of talented filmmakers - Wilhelm Thiele, Fritz Kortner, Alexis Granowsky, and Ludwig Berger - they collectively embody the era's "Tonfilmoperetten" (sound film operettas) trend, blending spoken dialogue with songs to create upbeat narratives that contrasted the grim reality outside theaters. Yet, as a group, they transcend mere entertainment, functioning as satirical allegories for the fragility of capitalism, bureaucratic corruption, and class aspirations in a society teetering on the brink of Nazi ascent. Their shared optimism - often culminating in romantic resolutions or sudden windfalls - offered cathartic hope, while subtly critiquing the delusions fueling economic recovery fantasies, much like the speculative bubbles that plagued Weimar finance. Flicker Alley's Blu-ray set offers restored access to rare Depression-era gems that blend humor with social commentary, bolstered by expert analysis and solid technical presentations. Funded by the Sunrise Foundation and Villa Aurora / Thomas Mann House, this set not only revives forgotten masterpieces but also underscores their cultural significance, earning praise for making "marvelous satirical comedies" and "some of the greatest Weimar sound films" available in high quality - highly recommended for fans of classic German cinema.

Gary Tooze