It Would Have Been So Beautiful

1910

12min

The film features the screen debut of prominent early German comedian Arnold Rieck as Louis, a clumsy military recruit who is relentlessly bullied and drilled by his superior officer. He falls asleep and experiences a vivid role-reversal dream. In his dream, he is the drill instructor, but instead of commanding men, he is commanding a regiment of well-built women dressed in tight military uniforms. Just as his erotic military fantasy reaches its peak, his real-world superior officer rudely shakes him awake, leaving the recruit to sigh the title phrase: "Es wär’ so schön gewesen!"