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IMDbPro

Lola Montès

  • 19551955
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
31,151
118
Lola Montès (1955)
Trailer for the Criterion Collection release
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
32 Photos
BiographyDramaRomance
When she is reduced to appearing in a circus, a notorious beauty thinks back on her past loves.When she is reduced to appearing in a circus, a notorious beauty thinks back on her past loves.When she is reduced to appearing in a circus, a notorious beauty thinks back on her past loves.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
31,151
118
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Max Ophüls
    • Writers
      • Jacques Laurent(based on the novel by: "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès")
      • Max Ophüls(scenario)
      • Annette Wademant(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Martine Carol
      • Peter Ustinov
      • Anton Walbrook
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Max Ophüls
    • Writers
      • Jacques Laurent(based on the novel by: "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès")
      • Max Ophüls(scenario)
      • Annette Wademant(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Martine Carol
      • Peter Ustinov
      • Anton Walbrook
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 33User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Lola Montes
    Trailer 2:24
    Lola Montes

    Photos32

    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Peter Ustinov and Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Peter Ustinov and Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Peter Ustinov and Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Peter Ustinov and Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)
    Martine Carol in Lola Montès (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Martine Carol
    Martine Carol
    • Lola Montes
    Peter Ustinov
    Peter Ustinov
    • Circus Master
    Anton Walbrook
    Anton Walbrook
    • Ludwig I, King of Bavaria
    Henri Guisol
    Henri Guisol
    • Horseman Maurice
    Lise Delamare
    Lise Delamare
    • Mrs. Craigie, Lola's mother
    Paulette Dubost
    Paulette Dubost
    • Josephine, The maid
    Oskar Werner
    Oskar Werner
    • Student
    Jean Galland
    Jean Galland
    • Private Secretary
    Will Quadflieg
    Will Quadflieg
    • Franz Liszt
    Héléna Manson
    Héléna Manson
    • Lieutenant James' Sister
    • (as Helena Manson)
    Germaine Delbat
    • Stewardess
    Carl Esmond
    Carl Esmond
    • Doctor
    • (as Willy Eichberger)
    Jacques Fayet
    • Steward
    Friedrich Domin
    Friedrich Domin
    • Circus Manager
    Werner Finck
    Werner Finck
    • Wisböck, The artist
    Ivan Desny
    Ivan Desny
    • Lieutenant Thomas James
    Béatrice Arnac
    Béatrice Arnac
    • Circus Rider
    • (uncredited)
    Maurice Barnay
      • Director
        • Max Ophüls
      • Writers
        • Jacques Laurent(based on the novel by: "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès")
        • Max Ophüls(scenario) (adaptation)
        • Annette Wademant(adaptation)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Director Max Ophüls' final movie, and his only movie in color.
      • Goofs
        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 Buffalo Bill Cody, who was born in 1846.
      • Quotes

        Circus Master: Wanting to make a name for herself, Lola understood that keeping a good reputation was out of the question. Rumors, scandals, passion - that's what she chose in order to create a sensation.

      • Alternate versions
        The film was shot in three language versions: German, French and English. There was a fourth version, silent, used as a working copy; this was eventually found at the Luxembourg Cinematheque.
      • Connections
        Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1994)

      User reviews33

      Review
      Top review
      10/10
      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?
      helpful•31
      7
      • Artemis-9
      • Jan 20, 1999

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • December 23, 1955 (France)
      • Countries of origin
        • France
        • West Germany
      • Official site
        • Sophie Dulac Distribution (France)
      • Languages
        • French
        • German
        • English
      • Also known as
        • The Sins of Lola Montes
      • Filming locations
        • Hohentauern, Austria
      • Production companies
        • Gamma Film
        • Gamma Film
        • Florida Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • FRF 650,000,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $120,306
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $12,569
        • Oct 12, 2008
      • Gross worldwide
        • $303,175
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 56 minutes
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.55 : 1

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