by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Das Lied ist Aus (The Song Is Ended) is a typical early-talkie German musical in every respect, save one. The story, concerning the lives and loves of show folk, ends unhappily -- and surprisingly so. The doleful denouement didn't seem to have much effect on the film's box-office appeal, since Das Lied ist Aus proved a major moneymaker. Perhaps this was due to the stellar line-up of Willy Forst, Liane Haid and Ernesto Verberes, three of Germany's most popular screen personalities. One suspects that the lilting melodies of Robert Stoltz (of Two Hearts in Three-Quarter Time fame) were also instrumental to the film's success.
