Anny Ondra Movies

Anny Ondra is the whole show in the musical comedy Der Junge Graf (The Young Count). Ondra plays Billy, the daughter of circus owner Preissnitz (Hans Junkerman). To keep production costs low, our heroine performs as a blonde female aerialist, then dons a black wig and poses as a male acrobat. Her dual identity results in a series of complications reminiscent of (but not copying) Viktor und Viktoria. When Der Junge Graf was distributed in the U.S., it was sold on the basis of Anny Ondra's marriage to heavyweight boxing champ Max Schmeling. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The exotically titled Donogoo Tonka starts out in Paris, as hero Pierre (Viktor Staal) and heroine Josette (Anny Ondra) join forces to hatch a moneymaking scheme. For a generous fee, Pierre and Josette offer to guide a wealthy banker to the legendary African "golden city" of Donogoo Tonka. The possibility that this wondrous city may not exist has no effect on Pierre, who carries out the plan so meticulously that he actually stumbles upon the "mythical" land in the final reels -- whereupon the entire cast bursts into song! A French-language version of this German musical fantasy was filmed simultaneously by director Reinhold Schuenzel. It was released several months after the original, under the streamlined title Donogoo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The English-language title of this German musical is A Girl From the Chorus. That girl is Henriette (Anny Ondra), who when first we meet her is a lowly prompter with her uncle's theatrical troupe. Anxious to get a break, Henriette talks her chorus-girlfriend Liesbeth (Ursula Grabney) to let her go on in Liesbeth's place. Instead of becoming an overnight star, our heroine completely messes up the show. But it isn't stage fright that brought about Henriette's fiasco -- it's the fact that she has fallen in love with Liesbeth's beau Hans (Viktor Staal) and is afraid to tell her. The key to Ein Maedel vom Ballett is "expect the unexpected." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Two directors collaborated on this Austrian-made comedy, which was filmed simultaneously in French- and German-language versions. The title translates as Should We Wed Them?, and it's all about the romance between Anny Ondra, daughter of college professor Lucien Baroux, and circus performer Jean-Pierre Aumont. The hero wants to marry the heroine, but she will lose a huge inheritance unless she marries a businessman. But Ondra doesn't care anything about money, and soon she's training herself for the rigors of circus life, including a dangerous act involving a lion's cage (the film's highlight). Most of the laughs are provided by Lucien Baroux, who could steal a scene merely by arching his eyebrows. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Versuchen sie Meine Schwester (Meet the Sister) is not based on the Broadway musical of the same name -- though admittedly, it is a musical. Anny Ondra plays Anny Spatz, the personal maid of music-hall diva Sabine Velden (Berthe Ostyn). An aspiring actress herself, Anny is finally afforded the opportunity of replacing Sabine on stage. This she accomplishes with the covert aid of her brother (comedian Vlasta Burtan), an enterprising mailman. Okay for what it is, Versuchen sie Meine Schwester might have been better had it been a reel or two shorter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although he was established as a master of suspense by 1929, Alfred Hitchcock was still under contract to British International Pictures, and thus still obliged to direct everything his studio chose for him. Hitch's last silent film was The Manxman, a "romantic triangle" imbroglio based on a novel by Hall Caine. Filmed on location in the Isle of Man, the story concerns a local fisherman named Pete (Carl Brisson), a law student named Philip (Malcolm Keen), and a beautiful village girl named Kate (played by German actress Anny Ondra). When Pete is reported drowned, Kate turns to Philip for solace and sexual gratification. By and by, Pete returns none the worse for wear. Never suspecting that Kate has been unfaithful to him, Pete marries the girl. Eventually she bears Philip's child, which of course Pete assumes is his. Unable to lie to her husband anymore, Kate attempts suicide, which according to the laws of the Island is a crime. Kate is brought before the judge, who happens to be her ex-lover Philip. Confronted with the truth by Kate's father (who has suspected all along that she and Philip have had an affair), Philip gives up his legal career to make an "honest woman" out of Kate. An unrelentingly dour film, The Manxman is nonetheless beautifully photographed by Jack Cox. Sensing that the film would not appeal to a mass audience, BIP withheld release of The Manxman until after the distribution of Hitchcock's first talkie, Blackmail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide