The Great Waltz

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12/27/2021 As a great admirer of Julien Duvivier and now, at last, having seen The Great Waltz some 60 plus years after it was made I can't help wishing that Duvuvuer had been tempted to Hollywood by something a little more substantial. I don't, of course, know the circumstances but given the horror stories about Hollywood moguls that we were weaned on it's not difficult to imagine a discussion in which the reasoning is 'we're doing a movie about an Austrian waltz king set in Vienna and up to here in schmaltz so why don't we get that French guy who did those things about tough guys in Africa (La Bandera, Pepe Le Moko) and the Popular Front (La Belle Equipe). Great idea, boss, let's get a cable off toot sweet. I wasn't there at the time but with hindsight it's ludicrous that Duvivier followed his masterpiece (just one of his masterpieces actually) Un Carnet du bal with this dross although there is a kind of left-handed logic given that Un Carnet du bal concerned a woman's treasured memories of her first ball where the prevailing mood would have been three-quarter time. Sixty-odd years later trying to look past the wooden Gravet and the 'stage' Austrian accents (ah, Shhsstrrowss) personified by Sig Ruman in the opening scene we're able to salvage the sure-footed direction and directorial touches of Duvivier and see what today looks hokey - the ride in the Vienna woods in which every sound is a musical note contributing to the instant composition Tales Of The Vienna Woods - as the magical sequence it must have seemed to a world hungry for escapism with a major conflict waiting in the wings. Likewise the quicksilver crochets and quavers that dance over an inept bank clerk's ledger in the opening scene - indeed the economy which in that same scene delineates Strauss as a frustrated musician trapped in a world of finance. Known to me more as the wife of another great writer, Clifford Odets, than an actress, Luise Rainer has little to do in the emoting stakes but Duvivier does use her effectively in the scene at the Opera House when he shows us how insignificant is a mere wife against ART, personified in this case by the mighty Opera House, the performers and, of course, Composers. I'm glad I saw it - and indeed now own it thanks to a generous French friend, but I'll be watching both Un Carnet du bal and the film Duvivier made immediately after The Great Waltz, La Fin du jour, much more than returning to this. See more @Cameron11 11/18/2021 An enjoyable dramatised film about the life of Johan Strauss II. The performances in this film were better than I expected and the pacing moves along fairly well. The supporting actors give very over-exaggerated performances and are always used as comedic relief which becomes pretty tiring. The start of the film shows Strauss leaving his job at a bank that his father got for him. However, his father is never seen after this. Strauss, then, gets a whole orchestra to work for him for free(?!) and puts on this ball which everyone in the town rushes to dance to. Although, a preposterous scenario, the camerawork was pretty impressive for this sequence (no wonder it won the Best Cinematography Oscar), especially for the time this film was made. He then meets an opera singer who wants him to leave his wife for her. Korjus's singing performance is very impressive but her acting leaves a lot to be desired as she always seems to be talking through her teeth for some reason. Her performance was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar (which I though Luise Rainer was more deserving of) but she lost to Fay Bainter whose performance I also thought was much better and more deserving of the award. I really liked the ending which tried to give an impression of the impact Strauss's music has had on Vienna and was a good call back to his scuffle with Franz Josef II. Overall, a well-paced enjoyable biographical film with a pretty cliched beginning but becomes more watchable somewhat entertaining as it goes on. See more steve d 07/23/2020 None of it is remotely interesting. See more s r @ScottR 01/14/2018 Having lived in Vienna, I couldn't help but enjoy this despite its overall shortcomings and embellishment. Korjus got on my nerves. See more 02/21/2015 Lavish MGM musical; the musical sequences are a heady delight. Unfortunately, the script is schmaltzy and sometimes ridiculous. See more 02/11/2013 Without the music the story is brief and frail. As the music is an acquired taste you have to be a real fan of Strauss to get anything from this movie. See more Read all reviews

The Great Waltz

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