The Land of Smiles (1952)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The land of smiles |
| Country of production | Germany |
| original language | German |
| Publishing year | 1952 |
| length | 107 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director |
Hans Deppe Erik Ode |
| script |
Axel Eggebrecht Hubert Marischka |
| production | Berolina-Film GmbH, Berlin ( Kurt Ulrich ) |
| music |
Franz Lehár Alois Melichar |
| camera | Kurt Schulz |
| cut | Margarete Steinborn |
| occupation | |
| |
The Land of Smiles is a German feature film from 1952 by Hans Deppe and Erik Ode . The leading roles are cast with Martha Eggerth and Jan Kiepura . Axel Eggebrecht wrote the script with the help of Hubert Marischka . It is based on the operetta of the same name by Ludwig Herzer , Fritz Löhner-Beda (libretto) and Franz Lehár (music). The plot of the film, however, differs greatly from the original. In Germany, the film first hit the cinemas on October 2, 1952.
action
Prince Sou from Javora, a small Indonesian state, has been living in Vienna for years. One day his friend Gustl introduces him to an artist group. When Sou sang a song, all those present were touched by his beautiful voice, especially Professor Licht, the director of the Vienna Conservatory. At his request, the prince takes part in a charity event. There he met the singer Lissy Licht, a niece of the professor. Both are immediately sympathetic. After performing a duet, they are frenetically celebrated and fall in love.
Sou's wonderful time in Vienna is coming to an end. Because his father died, he has to return to his homeland to take over the reign. But first he marries Lissy and takes her to Javora as his wife. There, Lissy and Sous little sister Mi become dear friends. Sous influential Uncle Tschang, the secret ruler of the country, is completely repugnant to the new one. One day he asked his nephew to marry a second wife. According to old tradition, however, this must come from Patagama. When Sou pays a visit to this province, he is relieved after discovering that the princess intended for him is a ten-year-old child.
A few years later, Lissy gives birth to a daughter. It is named chrysanthemum. Above all else, Sou has to realize that he cannot ignore the traditions of the country in the long run. That is why he decides to marry the girl, who has meanwhile matured into a woman, but only in terms of form. Lissy is outraged by this plan. She openly explains to him that she will leave the country with Chrysanthemum immediately if he does so.
With the help of Mi and Gustl, who is currently visiting, Lissy manages to escape from the palace with her daughter during the wedding celebrations. Chang's attempt to take the child away from Lissy on the ship fails due to the courageous intervention of Mi.
music
The music by Franz Lehár is not heard in the original, but in an adaptation by Alois Melichar . The following numbers can be heard:
- My love, your love, they are both the same (duet),
- With a tea à deux (duet),
- Who put love in our hearts (duet),
- Always smiling and always happy (song) as well
- the aria yours is my whole heart .
The Berlin Philharmonic will make music under the baton of Alois Melichar. The choreography was done by Jens Keith .
additions
The operetta was filmed in 1930 by director Max Reichmann . The exterior shots were made under the direction of Erik Ode in Bangkok and the surrounding area as well as in Ayutthaya , the interior shots under the direction of Paul Deppe in the studios in Berlin-Tempelhof. The buildings were created by the film architects Willi A. Herrmann , Heinrich Weidemann and Peter Schlewski . Walter Kraatz contributed the costumes. The film was made on Belgian Gevacolor material. Producer Kurt Ulrich also took over the production management. It premiered on October 2, 1952 in Düsseldorf .
criticism
The lexicon of international films draws the following conclusion: "Despite the lavish furnishings and [...] picturesque exterior shots for the time it was made, the comeback of the Polish-Hungarian singer couple Kiepura / Eggerth, who emigrated during the Nazi era, failed."
source
Program for the film: The New Film Program , published by H. Klemmer & Co., Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, without a number
Web links
- The Land of Smiles in the Internet Movie Database (English)