Customer Reviews

Johann Strauss - Dance and Dream / The Waltz King

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I bought this DVD I didn't really have an idea of what I was getting into. I was thinking based on the vague description offered that it would be something similar to 'Topsy Turvy', but it is not like that at all.
The first section is selections of music by Strauss, Strauss Jr., Josef Strauss, and an early companion and competitor of Strauss Sr., Joseph Lanner. Everybody is in period clothes, including the orchestra. The dancers only dance when the music calls for it. Other times the orchestra owns the cameras attention and for a couple of songs Lesley Garret sings (Much to my delight.)
The second part of the DVD is a historical Docudrama. Lesley Garret narrates except when the J. Strauss II impersonater is narrating to his wife about his and his fathers early life and then when we are in the middle of flash backs and a different randon person is narrating about either Strauss Jr. or Sr. or telling us about the origins of the waltz.
It's really not that confusing but the whole thing smacks of something you might see on PBS, which isn't a bad thing. In fact I think PBS would have done it better.
All in all it's not very detailed but still enjoyable.
I hoped this helped you somewhat know what you're getting into...

I would recommend that if you are interested in the life of Johann Strauss Jr., you can look up a really well done biography movie by Walt Disney from 1963, and it is called "The Waltz King". In my own opinion I feel it is a much better movie. At this time it is only available on VHS, but one can only hope they will issue it on DVD someday.

I agree with the review given below. It's a moving DVD and well done. There's one issue readers would probably like to know: there's no audio menu and you only can listen in Stereo nevertheless the packing says you can choice stereo, AC3 and DTS mode. If you are a waltz lover, it's a worthwhile DVD to buy.

Mauro Lana

On the box it states that it has a DTS sound track, but it only plays 2 channel stereo. The music is poor and there is no story line.