Lola Montès (1955)

Director:

Max Ophüls

Writers:

Cécil Saint-Laurent (based on the novel by: "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès")
Max Ophüls (scenario)
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 1955 (France)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The frank and shocking story of the world's most famous woman of scandal!

Plot:

The film tells the tragic story of Lola Montès, a great adventurer who becomes the main attraction of...

Plot Keywords:

Circus | Munich Germany | Riot | Red Balloon | Illusion

Cast

Martine Carol	...	Lola Montes
Peter Ustinov	...	Circus Master
Anton Walbrook	...	Ludwig I, King of Bavaria
Henri Guisol	...	Horseman Maurice
Lise Delamare	...	Mrs. Craigie, Lola's mother
Paulette Dubost	...	Josephine, The maid
Oskar Werner	...	Student
Jean Galland	...	Private Secretary
Will Quadflieg	...	Franz Liszt
Héléna Manson	...	Lieutenant James' Sister (as Helena Manson)
Germaine Delbat	...	Stewardess
Carl Esmond	...	Doctor (as Willy Eichberger)
Jacques Fayet	...	Steward
Friedrich Domin	...	Circus Manager
Werner Finck	...	Wisböck, The artist
Ivan Desny	...	Lieutenant Thomas James
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Béatrice Arnac	...	Circus Rider (uncredited)
Maurice Barnay	...	(uncredited)
Charles Bayard	...	Man in the box (uncredited)
Ady Berber	...	Bulgakov (uncredited)
Jacqueline Canterelle	...	Friend of conductor (uncredited)
Alain Clairfond	...	Young man (uncredited)
Yvonne Dany	...	(uncredited)
Eddy Debray	...	Captain (uncredited)
Roger Dutoit	...	Seaman (uncredited)
Jeanine Fabre	...	Girl (uncredited)
Jean Filliez	...	(uncredited)
Aimée Fontenay	...	(uncredited)
Otto Friebel	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Anton Färber	...	Lola's footman (uncredited)
Margarete Haagen	...	Anna (uncredited)
Harry-Max	...	Man in the box (uncredited)
Heinrich Hauser	...	Lola's footman (uncredited)
Hélène Iawkoff	...	(uncredited)
Walter Kiaulehn	...	Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Alfons Kiechle	...	Inn-keeper (uncredited)
Daniel Mendaille	...	Captain (uncredited)
Bob Morel	...	Man in the box (uncredited)
Bernard Musson	...	(uncredited)
Marcel Ophüls	...	(uncredited)
Léon Pauléon	...	Passenger (uncredited)
Billy Phillipsen	...	(uncredited)
Claude Pinoteau	...	Conductor Claudio Pirotto (uncredited)
Suzanne Pinoteau	...	Maid (uncredited)
Philippe Richard	...	Colonel (uncredited)
Yves Rozec	...	Aerealist (uncredited)
Willy Rösner	...	Prime minister (uncredited)
Hans Schwarz Jr.	...	Wrestler (uncredited)
Leo Siedler	...	Mittenhöfer (uncredited)
Victor Tabournot	...	Man in the box (uncredited)
Maguy Vernadet	...	Maid (uncredited)
Victor Vina	...	Man in the box (uncredited)
Alexander von Malachowsky	...	Lola's footman (uncredited)
Elinor von Wallerstein	...	Queen (uncredited)
Gustav Waldau	...	Trainer Jeppner (uncredited)

Directed by
Max Ophüls		(as Max Ophuls)

Writing credits
Cécil Saint-Laurent		(based on the novel by: "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès") (as Cécil Saint Laurent)
Max Ophüls		(scenario) (as Max Ophuls)
Annette Wademant		(adaptation) &
Max Ophüls		(adaptation) (as Max Ophuls)
Jacques Natanson		(dialogue)
Franz Geiger		dialogue: German version (uncredited)
Peter Ustinov		dialogue: English version (uncredited)

Produced by
Albert Caraco	....	producer
André Haguet	....	producer (uncredited)
Anton Schelkopf	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Georges Auric

Cinematography by
Christian Matras

Film Editing by
Madeleine Gug		(French version)
Jacqueline Sadoul		(uncredited)
Adolf Schlyssleder		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Jean d'Eaubonne		(as Jean D'Eaubonne)

Set Decoration by
Robert Christidès

Costume Design by
Georges Annenkov

Makeup Department
Jean Lalaurette	....	hair stylist
Maguy Vernadet	....	makeup artist
Jules Chanteau	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Georg Jauss	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Charlotte Müller	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jonas Müller	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ralph Baum	....	production manager
Karlheinz Först	....	production manager (uncredited)
Georg Markl	....	production manager (uncredited)
Paule Pastier	....	production manager (uncredited)
Helmut Ringelmann	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Aboyantz	....	assistant director
Marcel Ophüls	....	assistant director (as Marcel Wall)
Ulrich Picard	....	assistant director (as Ulrich Pickardt)
Claude Pinoteau	....	assistant director
Alain Jessua	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)
Adolf Schlyssleder	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Pierre Duquesne	....	assistant set decorator (as P. Duquesne)
Jacques Gut	....	assistant designer
Jacques Gut	....	assistant set decorator (as J. Gut)
Willy Schatz	....	assistant production designer
Werner Wappler	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hans Endrulat	....	sound engineer (as H. Endrulat)
Jean Nény	....	sound engineer (as J. Neny)
Antoine Petitjean	....	sound engineer (as A. Petitjean)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ernest Bourreaud	....	assistant camera (as E. Bourreaud)
Alain Douarinou	....	camera operator
Luc Mirot	....	assistant camera (as L. Mirot)
Raymond Voinquel	....	still photographer
Henri Champion	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ferdinand Rotzinger	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Karl-Heinz Vogelmann	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Felicitas Bergmann	....	costume supervisor
Marcel Escoffier	....	costumes: Martine Carol
Marie Gromtseff	....	costume execution (as Gromtseff)
Barbara Karinska	....	costume execution (as Karinska)
Ursula Maes	....	costume supervisor
Madeleine Rabusson	....	costumer (as M. Rabusson)
Jean Zay	....	costumer (as J. Zay)
Suzanne Pinoteau	....	wardrobe: Martine Carol (uncredited)
Monique Plotin	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Monique Plotin	....	costumer (uncredited)
Madeleine Rabusson	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)
Jean Zay	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Etiennette Muse	....	assistant editor (French version)
Hannes Nikel	....	assistant editor (German version) (uncredited)
Rosa Ring	....	assistant editor (German version) (uncredited)

Music Department
Jacques Métehen	....	musical director

Other crew
Tony Aboyantz	....	production assistant
Aimée Fontenay	....	trapeze number
André Hoss	....	general manager
Lucie Lichtig	....	script girl
Martina Müller	....	reconstruction (German premiere version)
Helge Pawlinin	....	choreographer
Roger Peré	....	administrative director
Peter S. Petrona	....	technical advisor: circus
Yves Rozec	....	trapeze number
Richard Balducci	....	publicist (uncredited)
Eva Ebner	....	script girl (uncredited)
Claude Vernier	....	dialogue coach: Martine Carol (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gamma Film (presents) (as GAMMA-FILM Paris)
• Gamma Film (as Gamma Films) (co-production)
• Florida Films (co-production)
• Union-Film (co-production) (as Union Films)

Distributors

• Gamma Film (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Union-Film-Verleih (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Brandon Films (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (subtitled)
• Filmmuseum München (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmtrade (2008) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Manhattan Films International (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Rialto Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical) (restored version) (subtitled)
• Sascha Filmverleih (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Sophie Dulac Distribution (2008) (France) (theatrical) (digital remaster)
• Vertice Cine (2010) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Gaumont DVD (2009) (France) (DVD) (restored version) (box-set)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Second Sight Films (2009) (UK) (DVD) (restored version)

Other Companies

• Capobianco  shoes

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

France | West Germany

Language:

French | German | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Restored version) | 4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | UK:PG (2000 video) | Sweden:15 | Singapore:PG | West Germany:12 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Hohentauern, Austria

Company:

Gamma Film

Trivia:

Famed film critic Andrew Sarris wrote "Lola Montès (1955) is in my unhumble opinion the greatest film of all time". He introduced the restoration at the New York Film Festival in 2008. He later decided that the greatest film of all time is The Earrings of Madame de... (1953), by the same director Max Ophüls'.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the Circus Master first tries to recruit Lola, he lists San Francisco as an important North American city, and includes Buffalo Bill in a list of major circus figures. This scene is set shortly before Montez left for Bavaria, so it must be late 1845 or early 1846. San Francisco was called Yerba Buena until 1847, and the name Buffalo Bill was first applied in the 1860s to William F. Cody, who was born in 1846.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Max par Marcel (2009)

An intriguing film, of many facets.

The 140 min version intended for international release (UK and USA) was never shown; one can only guess of the enormous power it had, considering that even the production cut released in Paris for the world premiere caused public riots and the police intervention.

Max Ophüls considered the German version the director's cut, and we are fortunate that mecenas and technical people worked together to restore to its best color and sound the 110 min version. The director presents the story in a logic, not chronological order, using the voice of an American Ring Master (Peter Ustinov in one of his best characters) to describe the life of Maria Dolores Elisa Regina Gilbert (an actual person, who lived from 1818 to 1861), who brought herself up from a poor childhood, through torrid passions with musicians, painters, revolutionaries and nobility (she was titled Countess of Lansfeld by Ludwig I, King of Bavaria.

I saw once the English dubbed version, cut to 90m long (or rather 87...), and though the acting and drama were there, they were clobbered by enormous technical defaults, poor sound and scratched picture. Now I've seen the restored version, and I was riveted to the film during each of its 110 min. Martine Carol speaking German when needed, but falling back to her French language when passion or anger naturally lead her to, is so nice to hear. Peter Ustinov is at his best in the scene where he tries to convince the daring but reluctant ruined Countess to go with him to North America, to play in a Circus; she refuses the huge amounts he is offering, but he leaves her a cheque anyway, and remarks dryly: "In America all scandals can be sold - Lola!" Later, when he gives the order that will eventually put an end to her career, and life (33 year old, with a tired heart, the doctor says), there rings of death in his trembling voice, as we see, like the gallant Lola up there in the trapeze, the black void.

"Gentlemen and boys over 16, come in now... You can see it all now, all that has not been ever seen in a circus show, inside the tent. It's only one dollar... only one dollar... only one dollar..." And the voice goes on and one, and the crowd gets thicker and thicker; men in black tie, and jobless chums, shoulder to shoulder for only one dollar; and the voice goes on, as the show must go on. Forever there must be more bright colors, blaring trumpets, funny animals, scandalous lives to expose. Was THAT the end?