Customer Reviews

The Great Waltz (A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Masterpiece Reprint) [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Take the story of a man torn between two women, add the music of Johann Strauss and the scenery of 1840's Vienna and you have The Great Waltz, an irresistible cream puff of a movie. Miliza Korjus-rhymes with gorgeous and she is-portrays the fictional opera singer Carla Doner in a delicious performance that verges on May West camp, murmuring most of her lines through a perpetual full-toothed grin and waltzing herself giddy while singing absolutely impossible sounding obliggatoes to Strauss's walzes-never loosing a beat and never out of breath! Luise Rainer's innate sweetness and vulnerability are perfect for Poldi, Strauss's devoted wife. Watch her silent reaction when she realizes that the song she thought he wrote for her was actually intended for Madame Doner-incredible acting. On the other hand, Fernand Gravet, as Strauss, is unexceptional and a bit bland. Among the excellent supporting cast, Hugh Herbert as the befuddled music publisher and Curt Bois as the comic, but wise violinist are outstanding. The movie does require a temporary suspension of belief. It is full of improbabilities, including the all-female orchestra that performs Tales of the Vienna Woods in a biergarten--wearing evening gowns, Madam Doner's apparent ability to glance at a piece of music once and perform it word and note perfect (the citizens of Vienna take this one step further by singing along even though the waltzes in question have yet to be published!), and the most peculiar version of Die Fledermaus ever performed. If you are looking for historical accuracy or musical purity, this is not your movie, but if you want a delightful Hollywood operetta, you can't do much better than The Great Waltz.

The highly fictionalized fantasia on the life of the great Johann Strauss. This 1938 film is a sacher torte of pleasure for anyone who loves his music and, in the lead, Fernand Gravet does a commendable job acting-wise. The very attractive - albeit large-boned - Polish soprano Miliza Korjus sings with a truly brilliant voice & she became the object of intense jealousy from M-G-M's reigning diva, Jeanette MacDonald! Because it was decided that there wasn't room for two Prima Donnas at the studio, the firmly established MacDonald was kept on the payroll while the European Korjus virtually went into American obscurity. Backgrounds for the film were shot in Chino, California. It is rumoured that portions of this underrated gem was indeed directed by Josef Von Sternberg.

the voice of miliza korjus is the most redeeming reason for having this video. She was a rare gift to the vocal world...and hated by Jeanette Macdonald, because she knew Ms Korjus had a better voice and was most certainly more beautiful! It is not to be missed for the glorious singing of Miliza Korjus!

This is not ageless cinema. It's dated, but it's fun. The scene where Strauss composes the Vienna Woods Waltz is one of the best in the picture (I'm giving no details away). The history is flawed, but the rags to riches story is definitely a fun thing to watch on rainy afternoons. Music is wonderful...of course!

The only quibble I have with this purchase is that it wasn't available in DVD form. Otherwise, watching the movie is a great pleasure, especially for lovers of rare opera performances.

I throughly enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to any one who enjoys good music. The plot was entertaining and you were hoping that his wife would win out in the end. A good way to spend a couple of hours.

This movie is a real treat. High quality filming, fine acting and magnificent singing, performed by the incredible Miliza Korjus.
Nostalgia? Offcourse!

Most of my life all I heard about was this movie called "The Great Waltz." My dad knew all the characters, the actors and loved the music. In the late 1980's I went to buy him the VHS video. The smile on his face was priceless. Frequently when I'd be home from out of town he still would say how much he loved this film. I watched it with him and noticed how his arms and hands felt every score's movement. I bought a copy for me as well. When he passed away earlier this year I was so tempted to place this film in the casket, but didn't. If you enjoy this genre of music by all means purchase it. It's lovely!

Movie goers from China and Taiwan through out generations adore this masterpiece. My parents at ages of 92 and 84 respectively saw the movie in China during the war with Japan. China delclared war with Japan in 1937 during World War II long before US did. Japan then blocked entire coastal line in China to cut off any supply from the sea. In the hardship of war US supplied China with necessities through air cargos and land delieveries including movies.

Shortly before 1949 Chinese Communists took control of China, my parents fled to US protected Taiwan and got married. My siblings and I saw the movie several times in two decades before coming to US. Personally I had not see the movie again since the arrival in US in 1986 until 1997. I moved from Utica to Poughkeepsie in 1989 and moved again to New Jersey in 1992 ever since. I found the movie in VHS form at a vintage store in Dover. I watched the movie over and over with different views and feelings.

T he product was terrible. The movie skipped as it played. Hard to watch and listen.