Its a hollywood version of the early life of johann strauss, the viennese waltz king. The great waltz and moses and aaron on dvd the new york. I content myself in reliving my fantasy every time ive had the good fortune of seeing this film, but most of all it reminds me of my beloved dad who. The great waltz reminded me of somethingpositive my father did for me when i was a young girl. If i ceased to be a star, all that interest in my home life would evaporate, i believe. The uk professional premiere took place on 10 march 1938 at the theatre royal, nottingham, as part of the carl rosa opera company s spring season there. Esmond knight and jessie matthews in strauss great waltz 1934 edmund gwenn and. A viennese strauss gala much loved productions limited.
Rainer received top billing at the producers insistence, but her role is comparatively minor as strauss wife, poldi vogelhuber. One of the most celebrated composers of the 19th century, johann strauss ii spent almost 50 years at the center of cultural life for much of western world, from his native austriahungary to such farflung american territories as california. The 1972 the great waltz, which starred horst buchholtz, is generally conceded to be a disaster. To capture what the filmcalls the spirit of strauss music, the great waltz combines exquisite craftsmanship with spirited inventiveness. In addition, waltz is both a dance and a type of music popular during the romantic era, particularly in vienna, which. Hitchcock signed with gaumontbritish in 1934, and his first film for that company, the man who knew too much 1934, was also his first international. The current cd offers 10 pieces, of which 5 are waltzes and 5 are polkas. Fernard gravet stars as strauss, while luise rainer is poldi vogelhuber.
Great film themes from many landsvibrations around the world. Hitchcocks film is based on the stage musical, waltzes from vienna, which premiered in vienna in october 1930. Network have done a great job of getting jessies films out on uk dvd. Thegreat waltz the municipal opera editionwas appearing that summer. The selections included are excellent, very much comparable to more pricey compilations. Lastly, the performances are elegant, exciting, and precise. Alfred hitchcock full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. The image seems a bit faded, and the soundtrack the score is performed by the vienna. Also, the cds were recorded by two great ensembles the vienna johann strauss orchestra and the vienna philharmonic. Hitchcocks film is based on the stage musical, waltzes from vienna, which premiered in. Heavyweight british character actor and playwright, the son of a doctor. It supposedly portrays a sense of purity in achieving a purposeact by a person. With classy performances by all the stars and a consistently appealing musical backdrop, the great waltz will enhance any record collection i am so pleased i have added it to mine. To capture what the film calls the spirit of strauss music, the great waltz combines exquisite craftsmanship with spirited.
Johann strauss ii played by esmond knight wants to be a composer like his father, i gwenn, who is arrogantly dismissive of his talents throughout. Although alfred hitchcock often described this movie as the lowest ebb of his career. Strauss ii married several times, but none of his wives were named poldi vogelhube. The great waltz is a musical conceived by hassard short with a book by moss hart and lyrics by desmond carter, using themes by johann strauss i and johann strauss ii. Jun 29, 2011 johann strauss ii tales from the vienna woods waltz. In 1845 vienna, johann strauss ii schani to his friends would rather write and perform waltzes than anything else, this at a time when a waltz is not considered proper society music. Johann strauss ii, johann strauss i, josef strauss, kempe. Stream strauss waltzes by vienna symphony orchestra and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. In 1845 vienna, johann strauss ii schani to his friends would in 1845 vienna, johann strauss ii schani to his friends would rather write and perform waltzes than anything else, this at a time when a waltz is not considered proper society music.
The great waltz and moses and aaron on dvd the new. The great waltz and moses and aaron, two films grounded in the. Johann strauss ii tales from the vienna woods waltz youtube. This film should be in the hands of anybody who is into strauss it doesnt matter how often you play it its just nice to know its there. The great waltz remastered, full frame, manufactured on. In early 1935, it was announced that dmitri tiomkin was doing advance music work for the film, and a short time later. All the pieces are fairly short, the longest being the emperor waltz at 6. A lavish mgm production, the great waltz 1938 comes complete with elaborate sets, meticulous design and brilliant photography. Play fulllength songs from most famous waltzes by johann strauss, jr. Great, great movie ive seen it several times, never complete, but i was lucky to find. I believe in todays generation, there s a huge element portraying satire through having classical masterpieces or orchestral compositions.
How johann strauss composed the waltz as described in a 1938film, the great waltz. Great, great movie ive seen it several times, never complete, but i was lucky to find a video copy in a store years ago, and enjoyed the full. The great waltz may have you searching for ways to describe its great charms. The waltz was originally titled hand in hand and was intended as a toast made in august of that year by emperor of austria franz joseph i on the occasion of his visit to the german emperor wilhelm ii where it was symbolic as a toast of friendship extended by austriahungary to the german empire. As movie theaters close, studios are turning to videoondemand. Hitch thought it was the worst film hed ever made and jessie thought it was perfectly dreadful. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. Waltzes from vienna strauss great waltz 1934 rotten tomatoes.
Just as he turns away, his back is spattered with dough, but an instant later he back is clear again. Dad told me that if i learned to play that piecea simplified edition, he would take meto see that production. In short, theres really nothing to like in this movie other than strauss s music, which is well performed, and the scenery and costumes. It starred luise rainer, fernand gravet gravey, and miliza korjus. Dec 31, 2006 how johann strauss composed the waltz as described in a 1938film, the great waltz. The culprit, as is so often the case, especially with biopics, is the screenplay.
It was part of the cycle of operetta films made in britain during the 1930s. Waltz music playlists waltz songs, history, dancing. Strauss s great waltz was a musical based on a stage play which detailed young johanns efforts to establish himself as a composer despite his famous fathers dismay at being dethroned by his own son. May 05, 2016 this feature is not available right now. Although he directed britains first sound film, blackmail, in 1929, and made 8 films prior to waltzes from vienna, none of the films could boast fulllength scores, and even his later work relied on sparing music cues. The story was covered far better in mgms high gloss film, the great waltz. Johann himself conducted the new work to great applause and was obliged to repeat it four times. An early working title for the film was the life of johann strauss. According to contemporary news items, mgm originally had planned to make the picture in late 1935 or early 1936. List of compositions by johann strauss ii wikipedia.
Hence, waltz dancing is characterized by the turning action. A musical based on the life and music of johnann strauss, jr. It is based on a pasticcio by erich wolfgang korngold and julius bittner called walzer aus wien, first performed in vienna in 1930. The great waltz a metrogoldwynmayer masterpiece reprint. Im in love with vienna from the great waltz 1938 youtube. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film. His work was embraced and acclaimed not only by europes upper and ruling classes, but also the working class and the. I dreamed of visiting this magical place one day, but have yet to realize my dream. This cinematic rhapsody loosely based on the life of composer johann strauss is truly an overlooked gem the motion picture guide. Title screens are the initial titles, usually projected at the beginning of a film, and following the logos of the film studio. Alfred hitchcock 18991980 was an english director and filmmaker.
This film should be in the hands of anybody who is into strauss it doesnt matter how often you play it. Jules duvivier directed this opulent, highly fictionalized musical film about johann strauss ii. Strauss s great waltz will go down as your most atypical alfred hitchcock film. The great waltz is based on a stage musical that was first performed in vienna in 1930. It was retitled strauss great waltz for us theatrical release, but the. Set in the mid19th century days of emperor franz joseph, the film overflows with strauss waltzes which are. This film is the only hitchcock film in the public domain as well as his only musical film. The crux of the film is the intense rivalry between the two strausses, which. Waltzes from vienna is a 1934 british film directed by alfred hitchcock, sometimes known as strauss great waltz. Schmaltzy and at times silly it may be, but the great waltz is still fine entertainment. The new dedication waltz was to celebrate the wedding of the emperor franz joseph is daughter archduchess gisela louise maria and prince leopold of bavaria.
What are some movies that use waltzes in their sound track. Strauss invents the great waltz on film texas public radio. The great waltz and moses and aaron, two films grounded in the work of notable viennese composers, are on dvd. His directorial debut was the 1925 release the pleasure garden. With luise rainer, fernand gravey, miliza korjus, hugh herbert. It starred luise rainer, fernand gravet, and miliza. Wiener blut viennese blood, vienna blood or viennese spirit op. Waltz music was originally composed for both dancing and for listening. About that summer, i was taking piano lessons in st.
The great waltz a metrogoldwynmayer masterpiece reprint vhs. Great waltz, the 1938 movie clip johann strauss ii. In the uk it was first performed on 12 february 1935 in an amateur production. Aug 27, 2014 a musical film directed by alfred hitchcock, also known as strauss great waltz. Waltzes from vienna 1934 alfred hitchcock movie full. Mainly because at this time he was not an icon in the film profession but a contract director gaumontbritish pictures. Sohn, son of johann strauss i, was an austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. Great story, great music, great cinematography a great waltz.
The great waltz is a 1972 american biographical musical film directed by andrew l. After he is fired from his clerical bank job because of his preoccupation with. Edmund gwenn stars as the elder strauss, with esmond knight as his talented progeny. The great waltz is a 1938 american biographical film based very loosely on the life of johann strauss ii. Jan 02, 2009 one wonderful waltz of johann strauss johann strauss ii october 25, 1825 june 3, 1899. In classical music, strauss usually refers to richard strauss or johann strauss ii. Strauss s great waltz was a musical based on a stage play which detailed young johanns efforts to establish himself as a composer despite his famous fathers. I saw the great waltz when i was a child, and i fell in love with vienna and johann strauss beautiful music. Waltz, walz, walzer, waltze, waltzer, waltzing etc. She is most likely modeled on strauss third and last wife. The 1938 great waltz is not a great movie and has more than its share of chiches, but its still a lot more enjoyable than this sad remake.
Jessie matthews 11 maart 1907 19 augustus 1981 was n engelse aktrise en skryfster. Though all the waltzes are very familiar ones, 3 or 4 of the polkas are not commonly known and were new to me. Korjus sings one day when we were young from great waltz. For this film version, lyrics for many of the strauss. The origin of the word waltz is from the german word walzen, which came from the latin word volvere. The great waltz 1938 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Strauss great waltz 1934 free old romance movies length. Strauss great waltz 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. All of strauss s great creations in three quarter time are in the film, including of course the beautiful blue danube. This film relates the life story of austrian waltz king johann strauss.
The great waltz stars luise rainer, fernand gravet and miliza korjus. Song titles that use a word waltz in the song title. Alfred hitchcock list of movies and tv shows tv guide. Stone, and starring horst buchholz, mary costa, and nigel patrick, that follows 40 years in the life of composer johann strauss the younger, known as the waltz king and his family. The life of strauss it envisions is fanciful, created really only so that there would be an excuse for showing off the composers gorgeous, swirling music. It was an adaptation of a london musical stage play which apparently ran for over a year. They are often an ignored aspect of films, although they reflect the time period or era of the film, the mood or design of the film, and much more. Of korjus, film critic nugent wrote that her resemblance to mae west and difficulties with the recording in the upper registers tend to offset a lively and fullthroated performance. Perhaps it is the price one has to pay for being a star. Julien duvivier celebrity profile check out the latest julien duvivier photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The great waltz 1938 film the great waltz is a 1938 american biographical film based very loosely on the life of johann strauss ii.
On stage from 1919, he later became a noted purveyor of suave villainy in films. Gainsborough studios, shepherds bush, london, england, uk. Thank you so much for watching this video by halidon music channel. Mgm spared no effort on the music for the great waltz. Popularly known as the master of suspense for his use of innovative film techniques in thrillers, hitchcock started his career in the british film industry as a title designer and art director for a number of silent films during the early 1920s.
Composer dimitri tiomkin adapted strauss compositions and conducted them with a 90piece orchestra. Songs using the word term waltz in the title walzer. This is an incomplete list of works written by the austrian composer johann strauss ii. The great waltz 1938 passed 1h 44min biography, drama, music 4 november 1938 usa in 1845 vienna, johann strauss ii schani to his friends would rather write and perform waltzes than anything else, this at a time when a waltz is not considered proper society music. Waltzes from vienna 1934 alfred hitchcock aka strauss great waltz alfred hitchcock movie waltzes by strauss schani, johan strauss jr. With the help of his guests, fritz recalls the glories of strauss, lehar and viennese operetta all in his distinctly viennese style.
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