Waltzes from Vienna
Encyclopedia
Waltzes from Vienna is a British musical film
directed by Alfred Hitchcock
, also known as Strauss' Great Waltz.
. According to Hitchcock:
Hitchcock told François Truffaut
that this film was the lowest ebb of his career. He only agreed to make it because he had no other film projects that year, and wanted to stay working. He never again made a musical film
.
Waltzes from Vienna was also a popular Ruritania
n style musical, which is sometimes still performed by amateur companies due to its large chorus.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, also known as Strauss' Great Waltz.
Production background
The film tells the story of the writing and performance of The Blue DanubeThe Blue Danube
The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 , a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866...
. According to Hitchcock:
Hitchcock told François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
that this film was the lowest ebb of his career. He only agreed to make it because he had no other film projects that year, and wanted to stay working. He never again made a musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
.
Waltzes from Vienna was also a popular Ruritania
Ruritania
Ruritania is a fictional country in central Europe which forms the setting for three books by Anthony Hope: The Prisoner of Zenda , The Heart of Princess Osra , and Rupert of Hentzau...
n style musical, which is sometimes still performed by amateur companies due to its large chorus.
Cast
- Esmond KnightEsmond KnightEsmond Penington Knight was an English actor.He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind...
as Johann "Schani" Strauss, the YoungerJohann Strauss IIJohann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas... - Jessie MatthewsJessie MatthewsJessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
as Rasi - Edmund GwennEdmund GwennEdmund Gwenn was an English theatre and film actor.-Background:Born Edmund John Kellaway in Wandsworth, London , and educated at St. Olave's School and later at King's College London, Gwenn began his acting career in the theatre in 1895...
as Johann Strauss, the ElderJohann Strauss IJohann Strauss I , born in Vienna, was an Austrian Romantic composer famous for his waltzes, and for popularizing them alongside Joseph Lanner, thereby setting the foundations for his sons to carry on his musical dynasty... - Fay ComptonFay ComptonFay Compton was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century...
as Countess Helga von Stahl - Frank VosperFrank VosperFrank Vosper was a British actor and playwright.-Stage:Vosper made his stage debut in 1919 and was best known for playing urbane villains....
as Prince Gustav - Robert HaleRobert HaleRobert Hale may refer to:* Robert Hale , physician of Beverly, Massachusetts* Robert Beverly Hale , art writer and curator* Robert F. Hale , Under Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary of the Air Force...
as Ebezeder - Marcus Barron as Drexter
- Charles HeslopCharles Heslop-Selected filmography:* Waltzes from Vienna * Charing Cross Road * The Lambeth Walk * Flying Fortress * The Peterville Diamond * The Second Mate * Don't Say Die...
as Valet - Betty Huntley-WrightBetty Huntley-WrightBetty Huntley-Wright was a British actress and vocalist. Daughter of the comic actor Huntley Wright, she had a long career on stage, chiefly in comedy and pantomime, and in film, radio and television...
as Lady's Maid - Hindle Edgar as Leopold
- Sybil GroveSybil GroveSybil Grove was born Sybil Marian Westmacott. She was a British actress. born 4th October 1891 in Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK. She was also known as Sybil Wingrove....
as Mme. Fouchett - Billy Shine Jr. as Carl
- Bertram Dench as Engine driver
- B. M. Lewis as Domeyer
- Cyril SmithCyril Smith (actor)Cyril Bruce Smith was a Scottish actor who began his career as a child in the 1900s and went on to appear in over 100 films between 1914 and his death almost 50 years later.-Career:...
as Secretary