The smiling lieutenant
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The smiling lieutenant |
| Original title | The Smiling Lieutenant |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1931 |
| length | 92 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ernst Lubitsch |
| script | Ernst Lubitsch Samson Raphaelson Ernest Vajda |
| production | Ernst Lubitsch |
| music | Oscar Straus |
| camera | George J. Folsey |
| cut | Merrill White |
| occupation | |
| |
The Smiling Lieutenant (originally The Smiling Lieutenant ) is an American musical comedy film by the German-born director Ernst Lubitsch. The screenplay of the 1931 film is based on the operetta Ein Walzertraum by Oscar Straus , Leopold Jacobson and Felix Dörmann as well as on the novella Nux, the Prince Consort by Hans Müller . The film was released in German cinemas on September 14, 1931. The film was released in Switzerland under the title A Waltz Dream .
action
In a beer garden in Vienna , the young lieutenant Nikolaus von Preyn met the violinist Franzi and fell in love with her. His married friend Max is also interested in the young woman. It doesn't take long for Franzi to return romantic feelings to Nikolaus. Nicholas is called to serve as a guard when the King of Flausenturm, Adolf XV, visits Vienna. He smiles and waves to his girlfriend just as the royal procession passes him. The king's daughter Princess Anna believes that smiling and waving is meant for her and that she should be ridiculed. The incident made headlines, and Nicholas was summoned to be king. He only knows how to help himself by lying that he smiled at Anna because he found her enchanting. Anna feels flattered and forgives the guardsman, the king orders Nicholas to be his chief adjutant during his stay in Vienna.
When Nikolaus is with Franzi in the evening, she is jealous of the princess, but he can calm her down. Meanwhile, Anna tells her companions that she is enthusiastic about Nicholas. She asks her father for permission to marry the guardsman. She threatens to marry an American instead of Nikolaus. The king gives his permission. Rockoff's adjutant visits Nicholas and tells him that he has to marry the princess without proposing to her. Nicholas protests, but the king's congratulations are conveyed to him. The disappointed Franzi packs her things and leaves Nikolaus.
Anna and Nikolaus travel to Flausenturm and get married; on the wedding night, however, Nicholas leaves his wife alone in the bedroom. Anna spends most of the time playing board games with her father, Nikolaus just feels bad. One day he notices that Franzi has come to Flausenturm with her orchestra. He has her arrested so that he can spend time with her. Anna notices this and has Franzi brought to her. Both women recognize the predicament and are sad. Franzi feels sorry for the otherwise lonely princess. She tries to bring her modern life closer to her with jazz music, lingerie and new hairstyles. Franzi and Anna become friends. When Franzi leaves Flausenturm, Nikolaus listens to jazz music in the palace. He finds his wife changed. At first in disbelief at his wife's change, he goes to her and throws the dice board on her bed. The two newlyweds start a new attempt.
background
The operetta on which the film is based was premiered on March 2, 1907 at the Carltheater in Vienna. The English version, with music by the composer Oscar Straus, premiered on January 27, 1908 in New York and was played 111 times.
At the same time, a French version of the film was shot with the same three main actors based on a script by Henri Bataille. The film was very successful in France and had the title Le Lieutenant souriant there .
For Claudette Colbert it was the singing debut in a film. Hugh O'Connell made his film debut.
The film set designer was Hans Dreier , the musical director Adolph Deutsch .
Film music
- Toujours l'Amour in the Army by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray, sung by Maurice Chevalier
- While Hearts are Singing by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray, sung by Claudette Colbert
- Breakfast Table Love by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray, sung by Claudette Colbert and Maurice Chevalier
- One More Hour of Love by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray, sung by Maurice Chevalier
- Kaiserlied (Austrian national anthem 1795 - 1918) by Joseph Haydn and Lorenz Leopold Haschka
- Oh you dear Flausenturm based on the German folk song Oh you dear Augustine , sung a cappella by Maurice Chevalier
- Jazz Up Your Lingerie by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray, sung by Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins
The song What Can They Expect of Me? by Oscar Straus and Clifford Gray was composed for the film but not acted.
Reviews
“One of Lubitsch's early triangular stories. Hints and playful advice are trumps. Playing with deception, lies and disguise - one of Ernst Lubitsch's great themes, life as an illusion, is already hinted at in this operetta film. "
Awards
- Nomination in the Best Film category
literature
- Hans Müller : Nux, the Prince Consort . In this: Book of Adventure. Novellas . 2nd Edition. Fleischel, Berlin 1908, pp. 159-205
Web links
- The Smiling Lieutenant in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Critique of Variety
- Classic Film Guide review
Individual evidence
- ↑ The smiling lieutenant. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .