Willi Forst Movies

The internationally popular screen team of Lillian Harvey and Willy Fritsch scored another box-office bull's-eye with Ein Blonder Traum (A Blonde Dream). Harvey plays a Jou-Jou, a struggling artist who is deceived and victimized by a man posing as an American millionaire. Taking pity on the poor heroine, two window cleaners (Willy Fritsch and Willy Forst), lifelong friends, decide to take care of her and help her achieve success. Inevitably, both of our heroes fall in love with "the blonde dream." Lillian Harvey also starred in the simultaneously filmed English-language version of Ein Blonder Traum, with all the original songs intact. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Die Lustigen Weiber von Wien (The Merry Wives of Vienna) is all about the romance between Viennese official Leitner (Paul Hoerbinger) and vaudeville headliner Theresa Zalenka (Cordy Milowich). Leitner's ten -- count 'em ten -- daughters disapprove of the union and intend to teach their father a lesson. The girls form a vaudeville act of their own, threatening to continue "trodding the boards" until daddy breaks it off with Theresa. A subplot concerns the girls' dancing teacher (Willy Forst) and his sweetheart (Lee Parry), who is jealous of all ten "merry wives." In case it isn't obvious from the synopsis, this film is a musical comedy, with ample supplies of both commodities. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Originally Zwie Herzen in Drei-Vertel Takt, this delightful operetta was written directly for the screen by Robert Stolz. Nicki and Vicki, two librettists who also happen to be brothers, are presently in collaboration with composer Toni. All too aware of Toni's amorous escapades, Nicki and Vicki try to keep the existence of their pretty sister Hedi a secret. Suffering from a acute case of writers' block (he has yet to find an inspiration for his next production), Toni throws a huge party, which is boycotted by his friends and associates so that he'll keep his mind on his work. The only guest who does show up is uninvited -- and surprise, that guest is sweet little Hedi, who turns out to be inspiration enough for ten operettas. Two Hearts in 3/4 Time was a worldwide financial and critical success, with most of the credit going to cherubic supporting player Szoeke Szakall, who would go on to even greater fame in Hollywood as S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This German comedy borrows freely from virtually every "college" picture made on both sides of the Big Pond. Campus life is nothing but an elongated party, with male and female students flirting, drinking, and singing, then drinking some more (the more things change...) Rich American girl Betty Bird shows up at Heidelberg college, whereupon students Willy Forst and Hans Brausewetter literally fall over themselves trying to impress her. But Bird is not so easily impressed; whoever asks for her hand will have to prove his worth academically as well as amorously. The most amusing moment occurs at the beginning of the film, when upon hearing a tour guide relate the entire plotline of the picture, a man jumps up and shouts "That isn't possible nowadays!" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Das Lied ist Aus (The Song Is Ended) is a typical early-talkie German musical in every respect, save one. The story, concerning the lives and loves of show folk, ends unhappily -- and surprisingly so. The doleful denouement didn't seem to have much effect on the film's box-office appeal, since Das Lied ist Aus proved a major moneymaker. Perhaps this was due to the stellar line-up of Willy Forst, Liane Haid and Ernesto Verberes, three of Germany's most popular screen personalities. One suspects that the lilting melodies of Robert Stoltz (of Two Hearts in Three-Quarter Time fame) were also instrumental to the film's success. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This epic Austrian production was credited to Michael Kertesz, who became better known as Michael Curtiz. It was also the screen debut of Walter Slezak. Mary Conway (Lucy Doraine) agrees to marry the wealthy Jackson Harber (George Reimers) to save her mother (Erika Wagner) from a forgery charge. She's really in love with Harry Lighton, a poor sculptor (Kurt Ehrle). At the engagement party, Lighton shoots himself, and Mary turns vindictive and cynical. She decides to make Harber's son, Edward (Slezak), fall in love with her and she succeeds. In an attempt to save Edward, his tutor (Michael Varkonyl) tells him the story of the queen of sin, who he compares to Mary. When this doesn't work, he goes to Mary and relates the story of Lot's wife. When Mary falls asleep, she dreams, in vivid cinematic detail, about the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, in which Lighton is Lot and she is his wife. When she wakes up, she calls off the wedding and goes to Lighton, who is recovering from his wound. Haber and his son reconcile. In its European release, this picture was 18 reels long; it was cut down to eight for release in the States, but the severe editing made the story disjointed and confusing. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi