Rudolf Carl Movies

This is an unpretentious teen-oriented musical with enough songs and dances (including that of the title) to keep the younger set entertained. As is usual in these types of films, the storyline is primarily an excuse to bring in as much singing and dancing talent as can fit into the running time. In this case, Johann Ebeseder (Paul Hoerbiger) is the manager of a theater that is about to buckle under. The powers-that-be want to tear the building down, but when one of these men meets Johann's granddaughter, he is smitten by her charms. That offers some hope of fighting the establishment. Then a disastrous fire settles the problem of the theater -- though one has not yet heard the last from Johann. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The focus of this standard drama is a group of singing boys from Vienna and a vacation they take in Hinterbiechle in the East Tyrolean Alps. The boys' teacher Mario Pucci (Teddy Reno) has a romance going with the lovely Hanna (Loni Friedl), which is challenging enough to keep him busy. One of the boys, Michael (Michael Ande) has his own challenge when he is accused of being a thief, though fortune smiles on him when evidence comes up to the contrary. The singing and the various subplots are set against the spectacular Alps and are enhanced by a good musical score. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Eva (Susi Nicolette) is a Viennese shopgirl who inherits "Paradise." More specifically, she falls heir to a resort hotel that has definitely seen better days. Despite the opposition of a rival female hotelier (who, of course, holds all the aces legally and financially), Eva vows to renovate her hotel and make it a winning proposition. This extends to hiring "bathing beauties" (who are neither good-looking nor swim) as waitresses and engaging the services of a seedy jazz band. In true comic-opera fashion, goodness prevails. Eva Erbt das Paradies bears faint echoes of all those hokey prewar Viennese musicals, with a soupcon of postwar realism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

World-renowned Austrian actor-singer Leo Slezak (Walter's dad) stars in this typical Viennese operetta. Slezak is cast as cab driver Leopold Weinzierl, a hidebound traditionalist who resists all forms of progress. When his daughter's sweetheart offers to buy the Weinzierl home as a potential auto-factory site, Leopold demands that the girl break off her romance, promising her hand to another suitor. To protect his property, Leopold mortgages the place to the man he's chosen as a son-in-law. But when this man proves to be a no-good rat, it is the other boyfriend who saves the day. The now-contrite Leopold celebrates his change of heart in song, just as he's celebrated every other momentous occasion in his life. The film's musical score was penned by Robert Stolz, whose previous successes included Two Hearts in Waltz Time (incidentally, the English-language title for Liebe in 3/4 Takt was Love in Waltz Time, indicating that Stolz knew a good thing when he saw it). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Unsterbliche Melodien (Immortal Melodies) is one of a myriad of European films based on the life and career of composer Johann Strauss. When the audience is first introduced to Strauss (Alfred Jerger) in this version, he is a middle-aged widower on the verge of taking a second wife, an ambitious young ballerina named Lily Dietrich (Lilly Hozcruh). Soon afterward, Strauss realizes that the marriage was a mistake, while the woman he should have married, Maria Geistinger (Maria Paudler), disconsolately heads to a new life in America. Fortunately, Strauss and Maria are able to find lasting happiness at film's end, while the composer's "immortal melodies" are heard on the soundtrack. Opera star Leo Slezak (Walter's father) is third-billed as Haslinger, while the orchestrations are provided by the Philharmonic Society of Vienna. ~ 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

Originally titled Tanzmusik, this Austrian tunefest is the story of Viennese composer Mario "Max" D'Almeida (Hermann Thimig). After enjoying only a modest success in his own country, Max moves to America, where he achieves fame and fortune as a jazz pianist. New York socialite Gina Harding (Liane Hald) falls madly in love with Max, following him all the way back to Vienna -- while being followed in turn by her jilted sweetheart Bob Crawler (George Alexander). Eventually, Max and Gina are married, but it doesn't take long for both of them to realize they're totally unsuited for each other, thereby assuring a happy ending for Gina's ex-beau Bob and Max's new-found love Hedi Baumann (Gusti Huber). It was reported at the time that the ocean-liner set seen in Dance Music was the largest of its kind ever constructed on an Austrian soundstage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide