The Student Prince

19541954
ApprovedApproved
1h 47m

6.5/10

A prince has a romance with a barmaid before he must give up personal happiness for duty.A prince has a romance with a barmaid before he must give up personal happiness for duty.A prince has a romance with a barmaid before he must give up personal happiness for duty.

6.5/10

873

Director
- Richard Thorpe
Writers
- Dorothy Donnelly(book and lyrics by)
- Wilhelm Meyer-Förster(based on the play "Alt Heidelberg" by)
- William Ludwig(written for the screen by)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 4:38

Original Theatrical Trailer

Ann Blyth and Edmund Purdom in The Student Prince (1954)

Richard Anderson and Edmund Purdom in The Student Prince (1954)

Ann Blyth and S.Z. Sakall in The Student Prince (1954)

Louis Calhern in The Student Prince (1954)

Louis Calhern and Edmund Gwenn in The Student Prince (1954)

John Williams and S.Z. Sakall in The Student Prince (1954)

John Ericson in The Student Prince (1954)

Director
- Richard Thorpe
Writers
- Dorothy Donnelly(book and lyrics by)
- Wilhelm Meyer-Förster(based on the play "Alt Heidelberg" by)
- William Ludwig(written for the screen by)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

When his bride-to-be finds him much too stiff, heir to the throne Prince Karl is sent off to the university in Heidelberg to learn how to socialize. He makes friends with the students there and falls for the down-to-earth Kathie, a barmaid. The two are soul mates, but when Karl's grandfather the king falls ill, he must choose between his country and his own happiness... —cupcakes

class differences heidelberg remake barmaid university 9 more

Taglines
- The RISQUE, RIOTOUS FUN-LOVING MUSICAL...Filled with SIGMUND ROMBERG'S Rollicking Songs! (original print ad - mostly caps)
Genres
- Musical
- Romance
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
In August 1952 Mario Lanza recorded the soundtrack. The whole recording was done in single takes. Every phrase in it was Lanza magic at its best. However, on the film set things were not to go well at all. The first scene to be shot was the song "Beloved" on the terrace. Director Curtis Bernhardt did not like the way the song was sung and corrected Lanza, telling him that he was putting too much emotion in his singing instead of sounding more stuffy and rigid like a Prussian prince. Lanza informed Bernhardt that he was to direct only his acting, and that Lanza's singing was strictly Lanza's department. Bernhardt would not accept this, and Lanza would not be told how to sing by a movie director. The end result was that Lanza walked off the set and vowed not to return as long as Bernhardt was the director. The studio took an injunction against Lanza for damages and losses. He could not perform in public, on radio, or in the recording studio for the remaining time of his contract with MGM (which was then 15 months). A solution was reached in May 1953: the studio would remove the embargo on Lanza if he would allow his voice to be used while another actor played the part of the prince. This was agreed to and the filming got under way with Edmund Purdom lip-synching Lanza, which he did marvelously. The irony is that when the film was finally made, the director was no longer Bernhardt, but Richard Thorpe, who had worked harmoniously with Lanza on The Great Caruso (1951).

Goofs
Shortly after the "Serenade" segment Kathie is in her room. She puts out the candles until only one is left yet, when she goes to the window, a large electric stage light can be seen reflected in the glass.

Quotes
King of Karlsberg: Freedom is a luxury no king can afford.

Connections
Featured in Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Soundtracks
Drinking Song
Music by Sigmund Romberg
Original lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly
New lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Sung by Men's Chorus

Top review

7/10

The Sound of Mario

In an old German kingdom, the arranged marriage between handsome prince Edmund Purdom (as Karl Franz) and a wealthy princess is canceled. He has proved himself amorous enough to produce sons, but Mr. Purdom is found to be lacking in "warmth and charm" by the potential bride. To work on these qualities, Purdon is sent to college and becomes "The Student Prince (in Old Heidelberg)". Unfortunately for his royal subjects, Purdom falls in love with beautiful, but common barmaid Ann Blyth (as Kathie Ruder). When summoned home during a crisis, Purdom must choose between love and duty...

This film was supposed to star operatic superstar Mario Lanza, who made a big screen splash for MGM with "The Great Caruso" (1951). Alas, Mr. Caruso was fired due to problems with both an expanding ego and an expanding waistline. With an appetite for destruction, he died of a heart attack in 1959 (at age 38). Fortunately, Caruso began by recording all the vocals for this production, reportedly in single takes. The studio wisely included them in the soundtrack and Lanza's received a screen credit larger than anyone who actually appeared in the film. His vocals are outstanding and the story remains engaging...

Put in the unenviable role of "lip-synching" Caruso's singing, Purdom handles the assignment well. He obviously doesn't match the excitement in Lanza's voice; nor is he in possession of the inherent charisma brought to the role by the likes of Wallace Reid or Ramon Novarro, who starred in "silent" versions of this story in 1915 and 1927. However, Purdom's good looks kept him before the camera and his acting skills grew. To be painfully honest, Lanza wouldn't have impersonated the prince well. The MGM cast and crew is in fine form, and character actor S.Z. Sakall (as "Uncle" Ruder) delivers a delightful last appearance.

******* The Student Prince (6/15/54) Richard Thorpe ~ Edmund Purdom, Ann Blyth, Mario Lanza, S.Z. Sakall

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