Waltzes from Vienna aka Strauss’ Great Waltz (1934) | Presenting Hitchcock Podcast

Gooooood evening. In this months episode of Presenting Hitchcock, Cory and Aaron spark the fire and romance of “Waltzes from Vienna” aka “Strauss’ Great Waltz.”

The Movie (its free on YouTube):

The Picture:

Picture Title: Waltzes from Vienna aka Strauss’ Great Waltz

Written by: Guy Bolton and Alma Reville, (based on: the great London Alhambra success by) Heinz Reichert, Ernst Marischka and A. M. Willner

Starring: Jessie Matthews, Edmond Gwenn, Fay Compton, Esmond Knight, Frank Vosper and Robert Hale

Directed by:Alfred Hitchcock

Year Released: 1934

Our Favourite Trivia:

Hitchcock told François Truffaut that this film was the lowest ebb of his career. He only agreed to make it because he had no other film projects that year, and wanted to stay working.

This was the only musical directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

The subject of Fear is used throughout the movie. Rasi fears that she might lose Young Johann Strauss to Countess Helga. Young Johann Strauss fears that he will never become a successful composer. Older Johann Strauss fears that his great career as a composer will be over in the future. Prince Gustav fears that his wife Countess Helga is having an affair with another man.

The first Sir Alfred Hitchcock movie to use “stuttering” in dialogue. This idea of stuttering was later used in Hitchcock movies like Rope (1948), Strangers on a Train (1951), and Psycho (1960).

In the stage musical, Resi, the baker’s daughter, decides that her father’s apprentice, Leopold, will make a more suitable husband than the composer, Schani (Johann Strauss II). By contrast, Hitchcock’s film rendition ends with Resi and Schani declaring their love for each other.

The original negative of the film is held in the BFI National Archive and several other high quality copies also exist.

The Random Draw for Next Picture:

Next up, we’ll be discussing both versions of “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”

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