Tibor von Halmay Movies
- 1938
Another winner from Hungarian director Ivan Szekely (aka S.K. Seeley and Steve Sekely), A Nosty fiu Esete Toth Marival was released in English-speaking regions as I Married for Love. Feri Noszty (Paul Javor) is a handsome but irresponsible Hussar officer who prefers a life of wine, women and song to his military responsibilities. Unwilling to bow to family pressure, Feri refuses to marry heiress Mary Toth (Eva Szorenyi) for her dowry alone. But Mary falls in love with the prideful Feri, and to win his affections she poses as her own poverty-stricken maid. Based on a novel by Kalman Mikszath, A Noszty Fiu Esete Toth Marival was filmed simultaneously in Hungarian- and German-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1937
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
- Starring:
- Alfred Neugebauer, Thekla Ahrens, (more)
- 1937
The title character in Maria Nover (Sister Maria) is played by Eva Szorenyi. A convent-bred lass on the verge of taking her final vows, Maria falls in love with a handsome artist, portrayed by popular operatic baritone Sandor Sved. Due to a silly misunderstanding, she walks out on Sved and marries his best friend Paul Javor. The frustrated suitor quits the art world to become a world-famous concert singer. Years later, he returns to reclaim Maria, only to find that she's not only still a wife, but also a mother and a dedicated nurse. Gracefully bowing out of her life, the Pagliacci-like Sved continues his singing career to assuage his broken heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eva Szorenyi, Paul Javor, (more)
- 1936
Rakoczi Indulo (Rakoczy March) is based on The Daughter of the Nabob of Dolova, a novel by Ferenc Herceg. Gable-like leading man Paul Javor stars as First Lieutenant Tarjan, who falls in love with the vixenish Vilma (Margaret Dayka). Since Vilma is the sister of Tarjan's superior officer and the daughter of a nobleman, our hero has to work overtime to be worthy of her love. When Vilma's father announces that the girl will marry another, Tarjan reluctantly walks out of the relationship -- and walks into a duel with Vilma's brother, who feels that his sister's honor has been impugned. All is forgiven when Tarjan makes a self-sacrificial gesture that allows everyone to save face. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gyula Csortos, Margit Dayka, (more)
- 1936
The title of this German musical comedy translates as A Song, A Kiss, A Girl. Who could ask for anything more? Well, the critics in 1936 did ask for more, carping that the film's storyline, about the romance between an aspiring actress and an incognito millionaire, was a veritable festival of cliches. Also subjected to critical lambasting was the by-the-numbers climax, as the hero buys out the entire house on the opening night of the heroine's stage debut. Audiences didn't care if they'd seen this story a million times before: they were enchanted by the winning performances of stars Gustav Froelich and Martha Eggerth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gustav Froehlich, Marta Eggerth, (more)
- 1935
The timeless compositions of Franz Liszt are heard throughout the Hungarian historical romance Szerelmi Almok (Love Dreams). Though Liszt himself is a major character, the heroine of the piece is Hungarian countess Maria Duday (Maria Salyok). Leaving her fiancé at the altar, Maria insists upon becoming Liszt's pupil. In addition to her passion for her teacher, Maria also becomes involved with a young orchestra conductor, who ends up being wounded in a duel with her ex-fiancé. In the end, however, Maria and the musician are reunited as she plays a Liszt concerto under his direction. A German-language version of Szerelmi Almok was filmed simultaneously with a different cast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Sulyok
- 1935
Helyet az Oregknek (Room for the Aged) is a touching vehicle for jowly Hungarian character actor Szoke Szakall. The star is cast as elderly store-owner Uncle Polgar, who is invited to move in with the family of his nouveau riche son. He feels rather uncomfortable in his posh new surroundings and is further distressed by the fact that his other son seems destined to be a prodigal failure. When both sons get mixed up in a financial swindle, Uncle Polgar quietly bails them out, revealing that he's got more basic "smarts" than the two of them put together. Chased out of Hungary by the Nazis, Szoke Szakall later pitched camp in Hollywood, where he gained a whole new fan following as S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosie Barsony, Ernst Verebes, (more)
- 1934
This Hungarian musical comedy (English title: Spring Parade) was produced by Joseph Pasternak, who later remade the picture in Hollywood as a Deanna Durbin vehicle. The original 1934 version stars Franciska Gaal as a Hungarian serving girl who heads to Vienna to visit a relative. Stopping over at an outdoor carnival, Gaal is told by a fortune teller that she will enjoy a happy marriage with a handsome and wealthy stranger. Later on, she finds herself at a fancy dress ball, where a good-looking aristocrat, assuming that our heroine is a countess masquerading as a peasant, falls in love with her. Delighted that the fortune-teller's prophecy seems to be coming true, Gaal finds herself in a dilemma when she falls in love with poverty-stricken soldier Wolf Albach Retty. But things turn out OK when Retty, the regimental drummer, composes a hit song which brings him fame and fortune, thereby neatly fulfilling that prophecy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franziska Gaal, Tibor von Halmay, (more)
- 1932
Zwei Herzen in Ein Schlag (Two Hearts in One Beat) is a tailor-made vehicle for popular musical star Lillian Harvey. Usually cast opposite Willy Fritsch, Harvey is here co-starred with a new screen partner, newcomer Wolfgang Albach-Retty. The story concerns Jenny (Harvey), a cabaret performer who aspires to an operatic career, and her husband, waiter Victor (Albach-Retty). Achieving success on stage, Jenny decides to divorce Victor and marry a nobleman, but her husband refuses to consider such a thing. Jenny then sets about to goad Victor into treating her with cruelty, thereby giving her grounds for divorce. By the time he responds to her efforts, however, she's fallen in love with him all over again. Star Lillian Harvey and director William Thiele also collaborated on the French-language version, La Fille et le Garcon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Wolf Albach-Retty, (more)
- 1932
Gitta Alper is appropriately cast as Gitta, the singing sweetheart of composer Fred (Paul Kemp). Thanks to Gitta's considerable vocal talents, Fred's songs become world-famous, though with fame comes many a heartbreak and setback. With the help of an understanding impresario (Leonard Steckel), Gitta and Fred are reunited in the final footage. Gitta Entdeckt ihr Herz (Gitta Discovers Her Heart) was assembled for the express purpose of transforming Hungarian stage favorite Gitta Alper into a saleable movie star. The fact that it was an excellent film in its own right was as much a factor in its success as its charming leading lady. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gitta Alpar, Paul Kemp, (more)
- 1932
Ein Prinz Verliebt Sich (A Prince Falls in Love) stars Georg Alexander as the title character, a merry young monarch named Prince Michael. Ordered to marry homely little Maria (Lien Deyers), the Prince takes a run-out powder to the continent, where he dallies with a Parisian number named Fifi (Trude Berliner). Taking matters in her own hands, Maria dolls herself up until she's a ravishing beauty. Naturally, Michael falls for her -- but now she's not so sure that she wants him! The songs in Ein Prinz Verliebt Sich were just as derivative and unoriginal as the storyline. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Alexander, Lien Deyers, (more)
- 1931
The title tells all in the German comedy Die Falsche Ehemann (The Wrong Husband). As can be gathered, it's a mistaken-identity affair, with a married man being constantly mistaken for his unmarried twin brother. Star Johannes Riemann spends most of the picture running about in his underwear, which should give a good idea of the sort of subtle wit than can be expected here. The film was co-written by Billy Wilder, whose American comedies tended to avoid such obvious bedroom-farce cliches. As with most of his early screenwriting efforts, Wilder worked in collaboration with Paul Frank. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johannes Riemann, Maria Paudler, (more)
- 1931
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Hoerbiger, Willi Forst, (more)
- 1931
One of several German military comedies of the early-talkie era, Liebeskommando (Command to Love) serves as a vehicle for the personable Dolly Haas. The star is cast as Antonia, the youngest member of a military family. When her brother Francesco (Walter Edhofer) refuses to follow in his father's footsteps by enrolling in a military academy, Antonia disguises herself as a boy and signs up in Francesco's place. She manages to pull off the ruse for three years, though one wonders how she was able to avoid undressing in front of her dorm-mates for so long a period. Eventually she reveals her true identity when she falls in love with her handsome superior officer, Lt. Von Lorentz (Gustav von Froelich). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolly Haas, Gustav Froehlich, (more)
