Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
At a time of financial weakness and desperation, Alfred Hitchcock must have made his first and last musical drama. It has a lot of Hitchcockian eccentric comedy of sorts , poking fun at the life of the rich Viennese aristocrats. Johann Strauss Jr., a disillusioned young man ridiculed by his famous composer father for his 'laughable' compositions, tries desperately to have his composition heard.
He befriends a young pretty countess who takes a liking to his abilities and takes it upon herself to get his composition public. This infuriates Jr's baker's daughter girlfriend, Rasi who is quite contended with him donning baker's hat and getting his hands dirty with flour.
At a time of financial weakness and desperation, Alfred Hitchcock must have made his first and last musical drama. It has a lot of Hitchcockian eccentric comedy of sorts , poking fun at the life of the rich Viennese aristocrats. Johann Strauss Jr., a disillusioned young man ridiculed by his famous composer father for his 'laughable' compositions, tries desperately to have his composition heard.
The countess plans a devious scheme to delay Senior Strauss' arrival at a private presentation whilst Jr. is coaxed to lead the rostrum to the demands of a boisterous Viennese aristocratic crowd to lead the waltz 'Blue Danube' to a petrified crowd. Through a spat of confusion of events, Johann Jr. reconciles with Rasi and countess leaves the young lovers alone.The animosity between father and son continues, however.
This is an adaptation of the story young Johan Strauss, in real life, whose father wanted him to be a banker. The music in him could not be contained and the result is the evergreen, ever popular "Blue Danube'.
One memorable moment in this movie is when Rasi is caught kissing her boyfriend by her baker father. He said' "Do you know that I was allowed to kiss your mother only 6 months after the wedding?" To which she replied, "Father, is that why you were 50 when I was born?"
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