Opernball (1939) User Reviews

Enjoyable and charming

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 2 August 2016]

Richard Heuberger's 'Der Opernball' is not quite one of the greatest operettas like 'Die Fledermaus' and 'Die Lustige Witwe', containing a corny and old-fashioned story where one really has to suspend disbelief in places.

However, it has a lot of enjoyment and charm, with comedy that genuinely entertains, has charming characters and while there are slightly more memorable operetta scores the music is beautiful and tuneful, the most famous being "Im Chambre Séparée" (colloquial for "Komm Mit Mir Ins Chambre Séparée".

This 1939 film of 'Opernball' is a good one, and does a good job maintaining the fun and charm. The comedy really does sparkle, and the storytelling is elaborate and snappily paced with plenty of parts to make one laugh and go ah. It does start off a little slow and it doesn't do enough to make a couple of the antics less corny or suspension of disbelief is very much needed for when the women are disguised.

'Opernball' is beautifully filmed in black and white, with lavish costumes and sets, while the music is still beautiful and tuneful and performed with liveliness and attractive tone. It's solidly directed too, and boasts fun performances from the whole cast, with nobody quite outstanding (though Hans Moser definitely steals scenes) but nobody's awful by any stretch of the imagination.

In conclusion, enjoyable and charming. Worth tracking down. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Elaborate comedy

[suchenwi · 7/10 · 16 March 2010]

The history of the Vienna Opernball goes back to the Vienna congress in 1815, and continues until today, where it is the most prestigious social event in Vienna (on the last Thursday in carnival), with correspondingly high admission prices, and live broadcast in Austrian TV.

This 1939 movie presents us with three married couples, and a few other players, who from different motives create a grand confusion on the background of the Opernball, apparently around 1900, judging by the car seen in one scene. It is not quite believable to me that women wearing a little mask over the eyes would not be recognized by close friends, but well, suspend disbelief.

The plot is elaborately constructed and executed at fairly fast pace. Hans Moser playing a resourceful head waiter appears only in the second half, but has several nice scenes then.

A remake in color was produced in 1956, where Moser and Theo Lingen re-acted their roles from this one, but I can't compare the two, not having seen the latter.

More Viennese Strudel

[cynthiahost · 23 May 2013]

Bur this was not direct by Willi Forst,But ,Geza Von Bolvary.In the Opera Ball sequence there was a ballet dance number that was similar to the dance number with chorus girls in the 1929 Warner brother musical show of shows,The black and white dance number.The Ballet chorus had the same style of costume White on front black on back,What a coincidence.The actress Luise Stanzinger,who plays a Ballerina who's a mistress of Paul Horbinger,only made a few films and disappear .This is bedroom comedy,made during the third Reich.George and Paul,played by Paul and Will,want to go to the Vienna ball,so George can be with his mistress,but,he wants to pull a trick against Paul,to get back at Paul for a mishap with a girl at the circus.So he ask the maid,played by Fita Benkoff to portray a mysterious women at the ball,Rosa something.Marta Harrell,as Elizabeth does not trust her husband played by Horbinger.Then Helen ,played By Heli Finknzeller wants to put the test to Paul,Will,if he be faithful to her too.So They send two letter of invitation as mystery women to meet them at the Opera ball.Fita during a afternoon party at The Dannhauser place,Fita drops one of the invitation to Helene's old Bo,played by Herman Brix.George end up asking Karl Etlinger to take his place to the ballerina.This is when the mismatch begins.George thinks ,at the ball that,the disguise women is actually his maid gong with Paul,but its Elizabeth.George thinks he's with his wife in disguise,how did he think he might found out?,when he's really with the maid.Herman show up and the ball to Helene ,but she unmasks her self and the drink some champagne together when she thinks Elizabeth has kissed Paul .Hans Mose plays the Waiter who manages the musical chairs.Eric Helgar shows up as singer in music hall,but the song he's singing has a little bit of modern tune ,at the time in it the,that doesn't fit the period it take place.Well it eventually straightens out.It's funny even if you don't know German.05/24/13