Die Waffen der Jugend

Directed by

Robert Wiene

The young girl May is taken by her father to a girls' boarding school. However, May is quite a wild girl: she makes music in the dormitory at night, dances, and so on. One day she threatens another girl in her class and, as punishment, is made to stay behind after school. She ties the curtains together and escapes, leaving behind a note saying that she will never return to this school. Her father reports her missing at the police station. Once on the street, May meets two tramps, who take her to their home. May's youth and innocence have a disarming effect, and the tramps try to improve themselves and their lives in order to win her affection. Together with May, they go to a tavern, where a quarrel breaks out. The police arrive and arrest May. Her father comes to pick her up at the police station, where May also charms all the officers. Later, May brings her father to visit the tramps, who are offered jobs as a reward for their kindness and care.