Alfred Neugebauer Movies

Wiener Madeln is the story of 19th-century Austrian composer Carl Michael Zihrer. Though not as famous as such contemporaries as Strauss, Zihrer had one "hit" waltz to his credit, which enabled him to sustain his popularity for nearly 20 years. The film's highlight is a "battle of the bands," pitting Zihrer's aggregation against John Philip Sousa's orchestra. Starring as Zihrer is Teutonic film favorite Willie Forst, who also produced and directed. Completed in 1945, Wiener Madeln nearly became a "lost film" during the confusion following the end of the war. It took Forst four years to piece together an acceptable print from four different, incomplete negatives -- and nearly as long to secure legal clearance to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In a sense, The Mozart Story can qualify as an international production. The balance of the film was lensed in Austria by director Karl Hartl, with Hans Holt as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the songs sung in German. When the American rights to the film were purchased by Screen Guild, director Frank Wisbar supervised the English dubbing, and even lensed a few new scenes, with Wilton Graff as Mozart's great rival Antonio Salieri (later the "protagonist" of the Oscar-winning Amadeus). Also appearing in the newly shot scenes were Carol Forman as Catherine Cavalleria and Anthony Barr as Ruffini. Despite its patchwork construction, The Mozart Story weaves a cogent and credible (if not altogether accurate) version of Mozart's life and work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third production from the newly formed postwar Austrian film industry, Praterbuben (Boys of the Prater) endured numerous censorial cuts before its release in early 1947. The crux of the problem was that the film depicted the mischievous misadventures of the Vienna Boys' Choir, causing the choir's representatives to complain that their organization was being depicted in an unfavorable light. There was nothing remotely offensive about the release version of Praterbuben, which plays like an extended musical adaptaiton of The Little Rascals. What plot there is concerns a choirboy who inveigles his wealthy father into bankrolling a play that the boy's friend has written. Minus this angle, Praterbuben was more or less remade by Disney in 1962 as Almost Angels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

German musical-comedy favorite Willy Forst is writer, director and star of Operetta. Produced in 1940, the film did not receive an American release until long after WW II had ended. The story concerns 19th-century impresario Franz Jauner (Forst), who battles with opera diva Marie Geistinger (Maria Holst) to win the hearts and minds of Viennese music lovers. Geistinger loses the battle, but wins the love of Jauner. Amidst several well-staged operetta vignettes, the film offers impersonations of such musical greats as Johann Strauss and Franz von Suppe. The latter character is portrayed by opera singer Leo Slezak, the father of actor Walter Slezak and grandfather of soap-opera star Erika Slezak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The merry monarch of the title is King Louis XV of France, here rechristened "Ludwig" and played by Alfred Neugebaur. For most of the film however, the king is shunted off to the background, while the spotlight is shifted to provincial coachman Chapelou (Willy Eichberger). Gaining fame as a singer, Chapelou is whisked off to Versailles, where he catches the eye of royal mistress Madame Pompadour (Thekla Ahrens), who tries to dispose of Chapelou's wife Madelaine (Rose Stradner) by confining her to her home. But Madelaine has her revenge when she shows up at the King's palace, posing as the Countess Latour. Yes, the King smiles, but not before La Pompadour is given plenty of reason to frown. This frothy costume escapade was originally released as Der Postillon von Lonjumeau. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Willi Forst ably essays the title role in the frothy musical Der Prinz von Arkadien. Preferring to write songs and dally with the local damsels rather than concentrate on matters of state, young prince Forst is ordered to leave Arcadien and go into brief exile. This suits him fine, as he never cared for the responsibilities of his office anyway. Upon taking up residence in a tiny European village, Forst falls in love with actress Lianne Haid, who does not recognize him. Unbeknownst to Forst, Haid was also exiled from Arcadien for singing a song unfavorable to the "playboy prince." Returning to her homeland, she intends to humiliate the prince in public but changes her mind when she discovers Forst's true identity. And that's only half the plotline! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The English-language title of this German romantic comedy is Her Highness, the Laundress. That's the title, and that's the plot. Hansi Niese plays the title character, a humble laundress who tries to retain her values -- and sense of humor -- when she's suddenly thrust into great wealth and prestige. The secondary romantic plotline was handled by Else Elster and Fred Doerderlein, who sing better than they act. The mistaken-identity aspects of the story are played to the hilt, and then some, leaving the audience (and, presumably, the actors), breathless at fadeout time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide