Strauss' Great Waltz

Original title: Waltzes from Vienna

1934
Approved
1h 20m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The story of Johann Strauss the elder and younger. Senior thinks little of Junior's musical abilities while Junior is torn between baker's daughter Resi and countess Helga who both contribut... Read allThe story of Johann Strauss the elder and younger. Senior thinks little of Junior's musical abilities while Junior is torn between baker's daughter Resi and countess Helga who both contribute to his composing the famous "Blue Danube".The story of Johann Strauss the elder and younger. Senior thinks little of Junior's musical abilities while Junior is torn between baker's daughter Resi and countess Helga who both contribute to his composing the famous "Blue Danube".

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos12

Top cast16

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Edmund Gwenn

Johann Strauss, the Elder

Esmond Knight

Johann Strauss, the Younger

Jessie Matthews

Resi Ebezeder

Fay Compton

Countess Helga von Stahl

Frank Vosper

Prince Gustav

Robert Hale

Ebezeder

Charles Heslop

Valet

Hindle Edgar

Leopold

Marcus Barron

Anton Drexler

Betty Huntley-Wright

Lady's Maid
(as Betty Huntley Wright)

Bertram Dench

Engine driver
(uncredited)

Sybil Grove

Mme. Fouchett
(uncredited)

B.M. Lewis

Domeyer
(uncredited)

Bill Shine

Carl
(uncredited)

John Singer

Boy
(uncredited)

Cyril Smith

Secretary
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
In his interview with François Truffaut in 1964, and in many other interviews, Sir Alfred Hitchcock referred to this movie as "the lowest ebb of my career."

Goofs
The plot centers around the composition of the "Blue Danube" waltz and its place in the rivalry between Johann Strauss Jr. and his father. While the rivalry between them was real, the "Blue Danube" was composed in 1866; Johann Strauss Sr. died in 1849, and hence could not have been late to the premiere of the "Blue Danube," since he was "late" already.

Quotes
Johann Strauss, the Younger: Oh Resi, stop please, you- you must let me explain, I- Oh listen Resi, I- I'll give up my music altogether. It's the only thing to do.
Resi Ebezeder: You mean you'd really give up your music for me?
Johann Strauss, the Younger: Of course I will, you mean more to me than- than ambition or anything.

Crazy credits
The opening credits expounds on the source material as "the great Alhambra London success".

Connections
Featured in Reputations: Hitch: Alfred the Great (1999)

Soundtracks
Radetsky March
Composed by Johann Strauss Sr.

User reviews34

Review

Featured review

7/10

Nice, but not very Hitchcockian...

In 1933 Hitchcock found himself without a picture to direct and signed on for this unlikely choice of a musical just so he could keep working. That being the case, it probably helps explain why it doesn't seem to have a Hitchcock feel to it or any of the elements you might otherwise expect from the master of suspense. I don't think his heart was really in it. The term musical is a little loosely used as really there are only the Strauss's waltzes for music as there was no money in the budget for any other music. So no one breaks out into song for no reason in this picture. Other than the fact it doesn't seem like a Hitchcock movie, it's a nice little story about the younger Strauss struggling for the respect of his father with a nice bit of romance and jealousy thrown in on the side. The most amusing scene for me was when the younger Strauss was coming up with the music for his waltz at the bakery. I also enjoyed the opening scene of the fire brigade racing to a fire and the "rescue" of the damsel. Apparently there wasn't much of a budget for special effects, because we never actually see the fire. A pleasant enough film, just not very Hitchcockian.

*** (Out of 4)