"Mein Herz hab' ich gefragt ... " ... Renate Müller/ Marthe Coiffier (1931)

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"Mein Herz hab' ich gefragt ... " (Lit. I have asked my heart) is a further song from "Die Privatsekretärin". In the English remake of the movie it was called "Just because I lost heart to you". In the French version it became "Le Coeur et La Raison" (Lit. Heart and Mind). Today's video video features Renate Müller's recording from April 1931 coupled with the French version by Marthe Coiffier. The Renate Müller record has a rough start and the Coiffier record is not in the best condition either. Nevertheless it is a nice comparison.

"Die Privatsekretärin" (Lit. Private Secretary) is a multi-language musical comedy directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Renate Müller, Hermann Thimig and Felix Bressart in the leading roles. Simultaneously a French language version called "Dactylo" was shot starring Marie Glory, Jean Murat and Armand Bernard. "Die Privatsekretärin" was enormous success and turned Renate Müller into one of Germany's most popular actresses. Especially her song "Ich bin ja heut' so glücklich" (Today I feel so happy) became an evergreen. The success of both versions on the continent was such that the rights were sold and London based Gainsborough Film remade "Die Privatsekretärin" with Renate Müller reprising her part. "Sunshine Susie" as the movie was now called was enormous hit and voted best picture of 1932. (The New York Times found the English version to be inferior to the German original). In Italy "Die Privatsekretärin" was remade as well with Elsa Merlini in Müller's part. "Die Privatsekretärin" is one of the few movies that was not only a multi-language production but also the subject of two remakes in the same year. The German original was longtime considered to be a "lost film" of which only fragments were available. However the movie was reconstructed from a 16mm print and shown in Munich in 2019. "Sunshine Susie" is available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/rlQDYMz5lkA). "Dactylo" survives and a review with images from the movie is available here : https://youtu.be/Bp01WXFHIX4 .


About the records :

"Mein Herz hab ich gefragt.. "
Renate Müller
mit Frank Fox Tanzorchester

Columbia
DV 394/ mx. WHA 292
Wien,
April 1931

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"Le Coeur et la Raison"
Marthe Coiffier - Soprano de l'Opéra Comique
Orchestre sous la direction de Pierre Chagnon

Columbia
DF 564 / mx. L 3055
Paris,
1931