Hans Holt Movies

Curt Jurgens was still spelling his name "Curd Jurgens" when he was featured in the Austrian musical romance Das Kuckucksei. The story begins when a groom-to-be expresses unwillingness to marry the girl of his dreams until he ascertains the identity of her mother. When mom turns out to be a showgirl of some notoriety the stiff-necked Romeo withdraws his proposal of marriage. The girl, played by Kaethe Dorsch, settles for a much more liberal-minded hubby, who helps her clear her mother's name. Peter Wehle's musical score is easily the best aspect of this by-the-numbers effort. ~ 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

Reportedly the first postwar Austrian production, Der Welte Weg (The Long Way) was filmed in the Soviet sector of occupied Vienna. The story concerns a group of POWs in the waning days of WWII. Despite the plight of these unfortunates, certain of the male and female prisoners manage to find romance. Most of the film deals with a triangle involving Rudolf Prack, Maria Anderson and Willi Danek. Having been conceived and filmed by pro-Soviets, Der Welte Weg is top-heavy with anti-German sentiments, which severely limited the film's salability in certain portions of Europe. ~ 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

Variete Csillagai (Stars of Variety) is a backstage melodrama with intrigue to spare. The plot is motivated by the hatred between vaudeville sharpshooter Carrey (Paul Javor) and famed magician Keats (Antal Pager). The main bone of contention is the fact that Carrey's stage partner Sylvia (Bella Bordy) is Keats' ex-wife. When Carrey accidentally shoots Sylvia during a performance, Keats pounces upon him, claiming that he intended to murder the girl. The key to the mystery is Sylvia herself, whose last-reel revelation ties up innumerable loose plot ends. Written by Thea Von Harbou (of Metropolis fame), Variete Csillagai was filmed in both Hungarianand German-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide