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It is very obvious that t.c.m. is politically correct against showing any German films classics,made before and during and after the Nazi's, except for those approved by their hired corporate film reviewers. Yes my fine fans of classic films, unless c.e.o's change as well as staff ,you'll never see this played on t.c.m. T.c.m with the possible aid of Leanard Maltin, possibly,they had this film , along with other of Conrads German speaking films banned on their," August Summers under the stars tribute to Conrad Viedt." So I had to commit an act of defiance. I bought it from war films. They got free publicity from t.c.m. Erik Charrel did escape Germany and although did not make it to the top in Hollywood ,unlike G.W. Pabst, he did find work. Two big German stars show up together, but as second roles, who first appear together in The Cabinette of Dr. Kilgari. Yes, Conrad Viedt as Prince Metternich.Lil Dagover as the countess. Conrad plays a very devious prince, worthy of cable broadcasting . He styles his hair and projects a subtle version of the zombie, from The cabinet of D.r. Kilgari. Another thing, one of the waltzes,near the end of the movie,that music was reused, added song lyrics, in Germany's first talking color feature ," Women make better diplomats,"1942. I also believe that the waltz congress dance was altered and re staged ,by r.k.o., in the 1935 Technicolor feature,"Becky Sharp". I might be wrong at that but it sure looks similar.But the main stars were , what use to be now,Ben Afflect and Jennifer Lopez of Germany in the 1930's. Lillian Harvey and Willy Fritz. Lillian was a British actress who knew how to speak German ,excellently,and french ,fairly.Her biggest mistake was to go back to Germany after her British production. She did regret it to later on. She was having an affair with Paul Martin. It's the time of the Napoleonic wars. In the annual Congress get together,the french government don't want Napolian to come back. They know he is a nut and want to banish him. Prince Metternich doesn't want The Russian Czar to be at the business cause he might be for Napi. Willy Fritz, who plays the Russian czar, knows this so he has his look a like, Bibikoff,played by Otto Wallburg, to take his place.The problem is that the prince starts to complain about the way Kristel is adverting her glove shop. He sends his Secreatary,Pepi, played by Carlheinz Scroth, who is her fiancé,to stop this. She doesn't. She throws flowers with her advertisement at Willy. It hits him but bounces off. He feels that it was okay. But everybody thinks it was a bomb. It was not.She ends up getting arrested for assassination attempts.Her punishment is 11 spankings with a cane.But The Czar , who pretends to be a baron rescues her. Jelious Pepi reports this to the crooked prince.He decide to use this to prevent him from coming to the Congress meeting. But The Czar uses his adjutant for this . So the prince fails at least until the end.So The disguised Czar romances Kristel at Schultzes Beer Garden-,I mean some Beer garden. The prince pretends that the Czar has rent a place for her ,where they can meet,to keep Willy away from business. But when he has to be there, his Adjutant takes over.Kristel at first doesn't notice a different but the way he acts she starts to notice,at tea time.Paul Horbinger shows up as guest star,playing the floor show at Schultz beer Garden.He sings the famous song,which would be used in two m.g.m films,Cynthia and 7 Sweethearts,I think, under changed lyrics Song of Spring, Vienaa and wine. In the last Congress dance , Adele Sandrock, who plays the princes , demands that a kissing booth ,by the Czar, be done to raise up money for the poor. Willy who's at the balcony of the palace realizes his Adjutant won't be able to attend the meeting to let Napoli in France. Then as the kissing booth starts, he sees Kristel and then informs his associate to stop the kissing contest. He surprises her and they waltz.The prince get his way but as he is dancing with the countess , they get a note that Napoleon is coming back. They all take off and leave.Kristel, who has fallen in love with now what she knows is the Czar, know she must let go. So he Departs, from Schultzes beer garden and Paul Horinger sings a song and Lilain is now sad. This is available at Warfilm.com and Reichskino.com and Movies unlimited catalog too. A digital print but looks like a surviving extant 08/26/11. 08/27/11 Made a mistake. It was not The Czars Adjutant Bibikoff, played by Otto Walberg, who played his double. It was an uncredited actor, who played Eurinsky. Or was it Willy Fritz with a bald wig? 08/27/11 08/27/11. Made a boo boo again. The stand in for the Czar of Russia was Uralsky
score /10
cynthiahost 26 August 2011
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2479860/ |
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21-3-2021 18:05:28