Jarmila Novotna Movies
Czech opera soprano Jarmila Novotna made her professional debut in Prague in 1925, singing the title role of The Bartered Bride. When talking pictures arrived, she headlined the 1932 German film version of Bartered Bride, among other productions. She then left films to concentrate on her stage work with the Vienesse State Opera and New York's Metropolitan Opera, where she performed regularly from 1940 to 1956. In 1946 she returned before the cameras in a straight dramatic role in Fred Zinneman's The Search. Jarmila Novotna's last film appearance was as turn of the century diva Maria Selka in the 1951 biopic The Great Caruso. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1930
While attending an operatic performance, wealthy Otto van Lingen (Gustav Gruendgens) is smitten by beautiful chorus singer Floriane Bach (Alexa Engstroem). Van Lingen sends his secretary Richard Faber (played by director Carl Froelich) to arrange a romantic rendezvous between Van Lingen and Floriane, which leads to the girl's being cast in the female lead of Jacques Levy Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman. But instead of falling in love with her patron, Floriane goes ga-ga over Faber. Van Lingen is incensed, but all is forgiven when he and Floriane are rescued by Faber from an opera-house fire (hence the film's title, which translates as "Fire in the Opera"). Featured in the cast of Brand in Der Oper are several world-renowned opera luminaries, including the great Czech singer Jarmilla Novotna. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gustav Fröhlich, Gustaf Gründgens, (more)
- 1934
Czechoslovakian opera star Jarmila Novotna plays the title role in the Austrian tunefest Frasquita. Based on a Franz Lehar operetta, the story is the usual frothy nonsense. Dolly (Charlotte Daudert) is engaged to marry Hyppolit (Heinz Ruhmann), but she's really in love with Harold (Hans Heinz-Bollman). Hyppolit is likewise enamored of another, namely Frasquita (Jarmila Novotna). Alas, Dolly and Hyppolit must go through with the wedding, despite the dictates of their hearts. That there's a happy ending all the same comes as a surprise only to the characters on the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jarmila Novotna, Heinz Rühmann, (more)
- 1958
Adapted by Sally Benson (Meet Me in St. Louis) from the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge, this dazzling musical version of Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates) stars 1950s Hollywood heartthrob Tab Hunter in the title role (as Hans, not the Skates). Living in a small Dutch village, Hans yearns to compete in an upcoming ice-skating competition, for a grand prize of 500 guilders and a gleaming new pair of silver skates. Also, all poor Hans and his sister Trinka (Ellie Sommers) have to their name is two pair of crude wooden skates. Making matters worse, the Brinker family has been living in poverty ever since Hans' father (Ralph Roberts lost his mind while trying to save the local population from a burst dyke. But though Hans is certain that things will never get better, his erstwhile sweetheart, the wealthy Rychie Van Gleck (Peggy King), has faith in both Hans and his future. While the songs in this production, written by Hugh Martin, are rather unremarkable and a bit silly at times (notably the production number "Clop, Clop, Clop", wherein the chorus does a dance in wooden shoes), Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates" is redeemed by a talented supporting cast, including Basil Rathbone (complete with German accent) as the crusty-but-lovable Dr. Boekman, opera diva Jarmila Novotna as Hans' mother, and Olympic skating champ Dick Button as Rychie's brother Peter (in fact, it is Button who steals the show with some astonishing figure skating). Originally telecast live and in color, this 90-minute extravaganza was presented as a Hallmark Hall of Fame special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tab Hunter, Peggy King, (more)
- 1933
The title of this German musical comedy translates as Night of the Great Love. Czechoslovakian opera star Jarmila Novotna plays a famed diva who falls in love with much-younger naval officer Gustav Froehlich. Alas, Novotna is compelled to wed an elderly diplomat for the sake of her daughter Christiane Grautoff -- who is likewise smitten by Froelich. Surprise of surprises, Grautoff and Froelich aren't paid off in the final scene. Nacht der Grossen Liebe was filmed by the still-thriving German division of Universal Pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jarmila Novotna, Gustav Fröhlich, (more)
- 1951
The film traces Naples-born Caruso's ascension from adolescent choir singer to the uppermost ranks of the opera world. Caruso is brought to America, getting off to a bad start by inadvertently insulting the impresario (Carl Benton Reid) responsible for his Metropolitan debut. This complication has a happy outcome when Caruso marries his benefactor's daughter (Ann Blyth). Refusing to spare himself or to hold back his talents from his fans, Caruso's health fails him, and he dies in 1921 at the age of 47. Featuring no fewer than 27 musical numbers, Great Caruso also stars Mario Lanza as Caruso, as well as such operatic superstars as Dorothy Kirsten and Jarmila Novotna. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Lanza, Ann Blyth, (more)
- 1955
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This musical production from the early days of TV charts the life and times of composer Johann Strauss, Jr. Special appearance by the Wizard of Oz's Cowardly Lion, Bert Lahr. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- 1936
In this romance set in Ruritania, a mythical European country, the ministers order the playboy prince to marry. He is presented with three lovely prospects--the daughters of a countess. He chooses one, but unfortunately, she is more interested in her escort than in the prince. The prince grows jealous and has the escort thrown in the dungeon. Fortunately the hapless companion is freed when the countess' fourth daughter arrives and wins the heart of the prince. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1948
- NR
Although Montgomery Clift shot this film following Red River (1948), it was released six months earlier and the combined success of both immediately made him a star. The film, which was the first to be made in Europe after WWII with an American director and cast, was partially based on Europe's Children, a book of photographs by Therese Bonney documenting the orphans of the war. Shot in the American occupied zone of Germany, much of the film, the product of years of research, was based on actual incidents. It opens at the UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration camp at which war orphans, who have been found wandering through bombed-out ruins, are given temporary housing. The severely traumatized children, many of whom are survivors of concentration camps whose parents are dead, find normal communication almost impossible. Karel Malik (Ivan Jandl), a young Czech boy, is one of these. His mother, Hanna (Jarmilia Novotna), lost contact with him when they were in Auschwitz and she now travels from one refugee camp to another in search of her son. While being transported in an ambulance, some of the children, including Karel, break out and scatter. American G.I. Ralph Stevenson Clift finds him wandering aimlessly, takes him back to his base to feed him, and begins to teach him English. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Montgomery Clift, Aline MacMahon, (more)
A documentary that covers the life and works of Arturo Toscanini. Includes some rare color home movies of Toscanini at work and play. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1932
Filmed in 1932, Die Verkaufte Braut is Max Ophuls' own unique spin on the Smetana opera The Bartered Bride. The film is a showcase for celebrated Czech opera diva Jarmila Novotna, whose screen appearances were unfortunately few and far between. The original libretto, involving the comic misadventures of two mismatched couples, is given a respectable amount of attention, but the film's biggest selling card is the photographic dexterity of Max Ophuls, who never met a camera crane he didn't like. Since filmed opera was seldom big box-office in 1932, Ophuls concentrates on the farcical elements of the story; especially worth noting are comic contributions by Paul Kemp and Otto Wernicke, who seldom let their German film fans down. Curiously, star Jarmila Novotna, whose "live" appearances in The Bartered Bride were much prized by contemporary critics, doesn't come off all that well in this film version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jarmila Novotna, Paul Kemp, (more)
