Two in a Big City poster

Two in a Big City

Movie 1942 1h 20m 5.8 /10
Directed by Volker von Collande

During a lull in the war, a German soldier touches down in a busy Berlin looking for a pen pal named Gisela he has never met. He has kept her letters but never spoken in person, imagining a simple exchange of news and affection. When the city hums around him, he finally tracks the name to a real... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: January 14, 2026

About Two in a Big City

During a lull in the war, a German soldier touches down in a busy Berlin looking for a pen pal named Gisela he has never met. He has kept her letters but never spoken in person, imagining a simple exchange of news and affection. When the city hums around him, he finally tracks the name to a real address and imagines a straightforward reunion. Instead, fate introduces him to a lively woman who shares the same name. The encounter kicks off a flirtatious dance through cafes and streets as he tries to sort fact from fiction while his heart leans toward a new, very real Gisela. The man quickly learns the city holds surprises and that first impressions can reshuffle when hearts meet.

Released in 1942 in Germany, Two in a Big City was directed by Volker von Collande with a story by Ursula von Witzendorff and Willi Kollo, a wartime comedy that pairs light romance with city life.

Box office data for this 1942 release are not widely documented and there is no readily available worldwide gross to cite. The film remains a studio era curiosity rather than a benchmark hit.

Within the wartime German cinema, this title sits among light hearted urban romances that offered a distraction from rationing and risk. The Berlin setting and a case of mistaken identity reflect the era's appetite for flirtation and wit, balancing humor with a sense of everyday life under pressure.

Critics of the time generally favored breezy romantic comedies that could lift spirits, and this film plays to that mood. The core themes center on chance meetings, social city life, and the gleeful tension between expectation and reality as a soldier in uniform discovers love may come with a name shared by more than one woman. The tone stays light while hinting at the human longing behind letters and distance.

Details

Release Date
January 23, 1942
Runtime
1h 20m
User Ratings
5 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Country
Germany
Studio
Tobis Filmkunst
External Links
View on IMDB

Cast

Claude Farell

Claude Farell

Gisela Meinhold

Karl John

Karl John

Bernd Birckhoff

Marianne Simson

Marianne Simson

Inge Torff

Hansi Wendler

Hansi Wendler

Giesela Brückner

Volker von Collande

Volker von Collande

Dr. Eberhard Berg

H

Hannes Keppler

Peter Pelle

Käthe Haack

Käthe Haack

Oberhelferin

Paul Henckels

Paul Henckels

Bumke

Margarete Kupfer

Margarete Kupfer

Frau Böhme

Hubert von Meyerinck

Hubert von Meyerinck

Spießer Karl Eberhard Knopp

Director: Volker von Collande

Written by: Ursula von Witzendorff, Willi Kollo

Frequently Asked Questions

Two in a Big City is not currently available to stream, rent, or buy online in the US. Check back later for updates.

With a rating of 5.8/10 from 5 viewers, Two in a Big City is a mixed bag - check out reviews to see if it's right for you.

During a lull in the war, a German soldier touches down in a busy Berlin looking for a pen pal named Gisela he has never met. He has kept her letters but never spoken in person, imagining a simple exchange of news and affection. When the city hums around him, he finally tracks the name to a real ...

Two in a Big City stars Claude Farell, Karl John, Marianne Simson, Hansi Wendler, and Volker von Collande.

Two in a Big City was directed by Volker von Collande.

Two in a Big City was released on January 23, 1942.

Two in a Big City is a Comedy and Romance film.

Claude Farell plays Gisela Meinhold. In the film, her character is the Gisela that the soldier falls for after meeting a woman with the same name in Berlin.

Karl John plays Bernd Birckhoff. He is the German soldier on leave who searches for his pen pal and ends up falling in love with Gisela Meinhold.

Claude Farell plays Gisela Meinhold. Hansi Wendler plays Giesela Brückner.

Volker von Collande directed Two in a Big City. The creators are Ursula von Witzendorff and Willi Kollo.