Emilia Galotti

The lecherous, tyrannical prince of Guastalla falls in love with Emilia, the daughter of colonel Odoardo Galotti. He dispatches his chamberlain Marinelli to convey her to him and obstruct her upcoming marriage to Count Appiani. After his attempt to send Appiani away on a diplomatic mission fails, Marinelli approaches the situation with less subtlety by ambushing the wedding coach with bandits. Appiani is shot in the fray, and Emilia and her mother are brought to the prince's pleasure palace. (DEFA Film Library)