Ludwig Thoma

Alois Hingerl, porter no. 172 at the Munich train station, gets into heaven. St. Peter introduces him to the heavenly house rules: “rejoicing” and “singing hallelujah”. Of that, “Angel Aloisus” is not very edified, especially since he is supposed to get “heavenly manna” instead of Munich beer. Due to a few irksome events at the side, his dissatisfaction is only increased. Angrily, he sits down on his cloud in order to rejoice and sing hallelujah. But that sounds in such a way that the heavenly population’s hair stood on end. In his indignation, Alois even doesn’t mince his words towards the Lord. The latter gives in and orders Alois to deliver the divine afflatus to the Bavarian government. He sends him immediately with a corresponding letter to Munich. As “angel Aloisius” comes back home, he at once goes to the Hofbräuhaus. And like this, the Bavarian government waits till today for the divine afflatus in vain.

After 50 years of service, the district usher Johann Peter Neusigl is supposed to get awarded a Royal-Bavarian medal of merit. Since government director Steinbeißl has announced that he wants to witness the awarding ceremony in person, district magistrate Kranzeder decided to splash out. He organises, with his wife Amalie, a banquet in their parlour, although both of them rather begrudge Neusigl the award. But after all, it is necessary to cut a good figure for the dignitaries. As the government director arrives, after a few incidents during his journey, belated, the event, however, has already degenerated into a boozy carousal which culminates in a scuffle.

When a travelling troupe threatens to unleash a saucy Berlin revue on the provincial town of Emilsburg, the local Morality Society, a band of sanctimonious middle-aged men, stages a protest. Meanwhile, the reigning monarch is concerned that his son and heir is not living his life to the full. Ninon d’Hauteville, a showgirl and the revue’s star attraction, takes a job as piano teacher to the young prince after her engagement at the local theatre was brought to a premature end, a result of the Morality Society’s interference. It doesn’t take long for those hypocrites to get wind of this. While on the outside they appear to be concerned with running the immoral woman out of their town, behind closed doors they rank among the new piano teacher’s most ardent pupils. However, Ninon, out to right the wrong done against her, secretly keeps a “diary” of their visits, recording each encounter on film with a hidden camera.