Else Elster Movies
- 1932
Viktoria (Friedl Schuster) is the wife of the American Ambassador of Peking. The Hussar (Michael Bohnen) is a Hungarian military officer, and Viktoria's former sweetheart. Captured by the Russians, the hero escapes to Peking, where he is given shelter by Viktoria. Their love is soon rekindled, whereupon Viktoria divorces her incredibly understanding husband and accompanies her Hussar to Vienna. This hackneyed storyline was not what attracted German audiences to this lavish operetta: Rather, it was the rich singing voice of Friedl Schuster, whose enthusiastic performance helps keep the soggier plot developments afloat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Bohnen, Else Elster, (more)
- 1931
The title character in this German backstage musical is Grete Schubert (Else Elster), a pretty blonde who indeed has the voice of a nightingale. While squandering her talents in a cheap cabaret, Grete is discovered by a pair of ambitious theatrical agents. Try as they might, they can't secure a decent booking for the girl, but there's still one chance left in the form of Ziegfeld-like impresario Hirschfield (Paul Kemp). Alas, the Great Man is too busy to see either the agents or their client. Tired of being treated like a commodity rather than a human being, Grete tries to escape her mentors, only to accidentally run into Hirschfield on her own. Sure enough, the celebrated showman makes her a star, and even plays Cupid between Grete and her stagehand boyfriend Walter (Arthur Hell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ernst Behmer, Else Elster, (more)
- 1931
The "Weekend in Paradise" of the title is predicated on an extended case of mistaken identity. Some of the gags and comic situations date back as far as Plautus, but this doesn't make them any less funny. It helps that the cast is filled to the brim with talented farceurs, from Julius Falkenstein on down. The direction is by Robert Land, who always managed to improve his material with above-average cinematography (courtesy of cameraman Willy Goldberger and Robert Lach) and sound recording (Carlo Paganini). Week-End im Paradies was adapted from the stage play of the same name by the original author, Ernst Neubach. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julius Falkenstein, Walter Steinbeck, (more)
- 1931
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
- Starring:
- Hansi Niese, Fred Doederlein, (more)
