The Case of the Vanished Blonde

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The detective and a picture of the vanished blonde

The Case of the Vanished Blonde (1958) is an advertising film with music by Hans Moeckel.

Duration	16:00
Direction	Alfred Bruggmann.
Screenplay	Alfred Bruggmann and Theodor Seeger after Werner Belmont.
Production	Dokumentarfilm Zürich (Adolf Forter).
Commission	Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (Swiss Federal Railways)
Musical direction	Hans Moeckel

Plot

A private detective of somewhat limited ability (Walter Roderer) is tasked with finding a film diva who has disappeared. His investigative journey leads him through restaurants in Swiss railway stations, several tourist spots and ultimately to the Jungfraujoch. He meets the film star without recognising her, thus fulfilling his task without being aware of it. What remains is his memory of lovely train journeys and of eating well in Switzerland.

Commentary

The music is undoubtedly what is best about this film, which is typical of the Swiss promotional films for tourism of the 1950s, trying to entertain rather than to inform (Zimmermann, p. 230). Moeckel wrote a varied music for big band that was geared precisely to the content of the film. It has many burlesque references to well-known sources (such as George Gershwin). The catchy “travel” motive always returns when the protagonist is travelling by train. (bs)

Reference

• Dumont, Hervé: Geschichte des Schweizer Films, Lausanne: Schweizer Filmarchiv 1987. N° 266;
• Zimmermann, Yvonne (Hg.): Schaufenster Schweiz. Dokumentarische Gebrauchsfilme 1896-1964, Zürich: Limmat 2011. pp. 224–231.
• Swiss Film Music. Anthology 1923–2012, p. 311.

Source

• Film and music: SBB Historic, Bern