This film was made at the begging of he end of democracy for Germany .I certainly liked it. Martha Eggerth played an ex Princes now working in a Paris night club as a waitress.The owner is played by Fritz Fischer ,who sings and dances in black face with black body and face Chorus dancers.She fall for a Captain of a ship Played by Ivan Petrovich .When he later send her a note for his love , two henchmen ,sent from Hawaii, played by Fritz Fischer and Eugene Rex , of the Hawaii Government , to discuss term in taking The princess back to the Island and Marry The Hawaii prince ,tricking her to be a part of the show up there .In Hawaii. The governor ,played by Hans Junkermann,wants his daughter played by Baby Gray, to marry the prince too.The only problem is that his secretary portrayed by Erno Verebes, is also in love with Baby gray. Once the prince shows up and every body else at the Governors house ,the whole show starts.although you don't see any luaus or native dances ,like you would see in Pagan love song ,the Hula girls dances Jazzy.some magicians show up and Kidnap Eggerth to the c castle cave where the prince played by Hans Fidesser, wants to marry her.It doesn't work out ,so ,he decides to let her go back to the captain and The governor allows Erno to go to baby. Jim boy get nothing,there a black German actor who plays in this film too,the same kind of roles that black actor back then could only play, back then .Good movie 03/27/15
3 Reviews
Poor Martha!
richard-camhi5 February 2015
I love Martha Eggerth films. "Die Blonde Carmen" is priceless, and so are several others which are currently on YouTube. But this one --- cringe inducing from the first frame to the last! From the hideous black-face number in Paris, through to the equally atrocious depiction of native Hawaiians, it's too abysmal to be believed! Her male partner in the film can't sing at all, but he doesn't let that stop him. The stereotypes, the imitation jazz, the sleazy costumes, the embarrassing second banana's shtick, the brainless plot ... But there's no point in going into detail here. If you want to see my personal candidate for the world's worst musical, then this is it. But don't say I didn't warn you!
A whole lot of fun!!
swgreif13 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The following is a joint project with Count de Money, a friend and insightful film critic. At least 50% of this review is attributable to the Herrn Graf von und zu Oz I was nonplussed reading the sole review of this hoot of a movie by a Swiss based critic, and after watching it myself, I had to wonder if a sense of humour and of the absurd are lacking in the land of the Gnomes of Zurich.
"Die Blume von Hawai'i" ("Flower of Hawai'i") which the Hungarian Jew Paul Abraham wrote for the stage in 1931 is a frenzied Jazz musical with an all-star cast.. It was first filmed in 1933 (there was a subsequent re-make 20 years later). My copy of the film has French subtitles, and since I cannot be certain a copy with English subs. exists, I will concentrate on the plot. Thus, plenty of spoilers.
The story is loosely based on the usurpation by the Americans of Queen Liliʻuokalani of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. This shameful event took place in 1893, but in the film it would appear that the story is happening at the time the film was made - so even though there is some foundation in history the film has moved completely into the realm of fantasy.
Like most operettas one can get completely tangled in the plot which is basically there as a backdrop on which to hang a number of excellent musical numbers. Suffice to say that Laya, a princess of Hawai'i is in Paris incognito as Susanne Lamond, a cabaret singer (Mártha Eggerth). Also at this cabaret is the headline artist - a jazz singer called Jim Boy (Fritz Fischer) and like another well-known Jazz Singer - sings in black face.
Prince Lalo of Hawai'i (Hans Fidesser) is also in Paris, he prefers to travel the world - so one wonders if anyone from the Hawai'ian Royal Family is actually living in Hawai'i.
The film begins in a night-club, where Jim Boy performs. Selling cigarettes is Susanne Lamond who is bothered by an amorous drunk. To the rescue is American captain Stone (Iván Petrovich) who arranges for Susanne to take leave and join him for dinner, drinks, dance, and song. He hopes for more than a good-night kiss & gets nothing: Susanne has high standards. A bit later, Stone gets word to leave on a "mission" & he sends a cable to Susanne promising to return.
Two agents of the Royal Family manage to track down Princess Laya in Paris, intercept Stone's cable, and then with the offer of a contract for Jim Boy to appear in Hawai'i in tandem with Susanne Lamond, (Princess Laya) who proves her status as a trouper by some riotous singing & dancing. - they manage to entice the "princess" back home.
Part of Stone's mission is to board the ship to Hawai'i, where he comes upon Susanne Lamond not knowing, of course, that she is the actual Hawaiian Princess. At first Susanne is distant, complains of Stone's silence following his sudden departure, but he assures her that he did write and want to continue the relationship.
Are you confused as yet? Well, no matter, for by this time you will have seen enough musical numbers to enable you to discard the plot altogether and just enjoy all the nonsense.
The musical numbers are for the most part cleverly interwoven into the story so there is not that much of a juxtaposition - but as with all musicals, one does find that inevitably a conversation between a couple suddenly breaks into song.
Meanwhile back to the story - Prince Lalo decides to go home and his arrival in a ketch is well photographed and is accompanied by him singing the hauntingly and lyrical "Ein Paradies am Meeresstrand" (A Paradise by the Sea).
Hawai'i is run by an American Governor - Governor Harrison (Hans Junkermann) who first appears a bit of a dill but manages to be an authority figure in the end. He has a niece, Bessy (Baby Gray) who he wants to join in matrimony with Prince Lalo to ensure a continuation of his power base, but his secretary, an oaf called Buffy (Ernö Verebes) is in love with Bessy. Buffy is obviously the obligatory comic of the operetta.
Things become even more bizarre when a troupe of Fakirs arrive to entertain with a "disappearing victim in a basket" trick. Through this devise, Susanne is kidnapped and brought to the Hawaiian "Holy of Holies" & is there confronted by Prince Lalo who reminds of her royal duty to her people.
Governor Harrisson is concerned that the Hawai'ian native population people will revolt against the American occupation. He sends in the troops who break into the Holy of Holies and demands that Susanne, Princess Laya, sign an act of renunciation of the throne. She refuses, and the Governor orders Captain Stone to arrest her. Unbeknownst to all, Susanne really is not very interested in being a princess and prefers being with Captain Stone. "Princess Laya" eventually signs with the consent of Prince Lalo who realises that the arranged marriage he was supposed to have with the Princess Laya has gone down the plughole and sails way whilst Princess Laya goes off to catch Captain Stone's ship back to America and everyone lives happily ever after, including Buffy who gets Bessy's Governor Uncle's consent to marriage, but not Jim Boy who misses out with both Susanne & Bessy.
Having had a bit of a criticism I can say that I enjoyed it, taking it for what it was and just getting carried away with the mad romp with equally mad musical numbers that seemed to sum up the Berlin style of the dying days of the Weimar Republik.
"Die Blume von Hawai'i" ("Flower of Hawai'i") which the Hungarian Jew Paul Abraham wrote for the stage in 1931 is a frenzied Jazz musical with an all-star cast.. It was first filmed in 1933 (there was a subsequent re-make 20 years later). My copy of the film has French subtitles, and since I cannot be certain a copy with English subs. exists, I will concentrate on the plot. Thus, plenty of spoilers.
The story is loosely based on the usurpation by the Americans of Queen Liliʻuokalani of the Kingdom of Hawai'i. This shameful event took place in 1893, but in the film it would appear that the story is happening at the time the film was made - so even though there is some foundation in history the film has moved completely into the realm of fantasy.
Like most operettas one can get completely tangled in the plot which is basically there as a backdrop on which to hang a number of excellent musical numbers. Suffice to say that Laya, a princess of Hawai'i is in Paris incognito as Susanne Lamond, a cabaret singer (Mártha Eggerth). Also at this cabaret is the headline artist - a jazz singer called Jim Boy (Fritz Fischer) and like another well-known Jazz Singer - sings in black face.
Prince Lalo of Hawai'i (Hans Fidesser) is also in Paris, he prefers to travel the world - so one wonders if anyone from the Hawai'ian Royal Family is actually living in Hawai'i.
The film begins in a night-club, where Jim Boy performs. Selling cigarettes is Susanne Lamond who is bothered by an amorous drunk. To the rescue is American captain Stone (Iván Petrovich) who arranges for Susanne to take leave and join him for dinner, drinks, dance, and song. He hopes for more than a good-night kiss & gets nothing: Susanne has high standards. A bit later, Stone gets word to leave on a "mission" & he sends a cable to Susanne promising to return.
Two agents of the Royal Family manage to track down Princess Laya in Paris, intercept Stone's cable, and then with the offer of a contract for Jim Boy to appear in Hawai'i in tandem with Susanne Lamond, (Princess Laya) who proves her status as a trouper by some riotous singing & dancing. - they manage to entice the "princess" back home.
Part of Stone's mission is to board the ship to Hawai'i, where he comes upon Susanne Lamond not knowing, of course, that she is the actual Hawaiian Princess. At first Susanne is distant, complains of Stone's silence following his sudden departure, but he assures her that he did write and want to continue the relationship.
Are you confused as yet? Well, no matter, for by this time you will have seen enough musical numbers to enable you to discard the plot altogether and just enjoy all the nonsense.
The musical numbers are for the most part cleverly interwoven into the story so there is not that much of a juxtaposition - but as with all musicals, one does find that inevitably a conversation between a couple suddenly breaks into song.
Meanwhile back to the story - Prince Lalo decides to go home and his arrival in a ketch is well photographed and is accompanied by him singing the hauntingly and lyrical "Ein Paradies am Meeresstrand" (A Paradise by the Sea).
Hawai'i is run by an American Governor - Governor Harrison (Hans Junkermann) who first appears a bit of a dill but manages to be an authority figure in the end. He has a niece, Bessy (Baby Gray) who he wants to join in matrimony with Prince Lalo to ensure a continuation of his power base, but his secretary, an oaf called Buffy (Ernö Verebes) is in love with Bessy. Buffy is obviously the obligatory comic of the operetta.
Things become even more bizarre when a troupe of Fakirs arrive to entertain with a "disappearing victim in a basket" trick. Through this devise, Susanne is kidnapped and brought to the Hawaiian "Holy of Holies" & is there confronted by Prince Lalo who reminds of her royal duty to her people.
Governor Harrisson is concerned that the Hawai'ian native population people will revolt against the American occupation. He sends in the troops who break into the Holy of Holies and demands that Susanne, Princess Laya, sign an act of renunciation of the throne. She refuses, and the Governor orders Captain Stone to arrest her. Unbeknownst to all, Susanne really is not very interested in being a princess and prefers being with Captain Stone. "Princess Laya" eventually signs with the consent of Prince Lalo who realises that the arranged marriage he was supposed to have with the Princess Laya has gone down the plughole and sails way whilst Princess Laya goes off to catch Captain Stone's ship back to America and everyone lives happily ever after, including Buffy who gets Bessy's Governor Uncle's consent to marriage, but not Jim Boy who misses out with both Susanne & Bessy.
Having had a bit of a criticism I can say that I enjoyed it, taking it for what it was and just getting carried away with the mad romp with equally mad musical numbers that seemed to sum up the Berlin style of the dying days of the Weimar Republik.
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