Customer Reviews

The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1927 silent classic may seem like a frothy piece of fluff at first, but it is actually quite tragic, and true to life.
Exquisitely directed by Ernst Lubitsch, it has meticulous attention to detail, and is wonderfully photographed. I love the hillside of flowers, which is later seen barren. There are many delicate touches in this film, that make it good for many viewings. The orchestral score by Carl Davis is also pleasing, with its share of om-pah-pah drinking songs, waltzes, and a melodic "love theme".

The cast is brilliant, starting with the delightful Phillipe De Lacy, who plays the prince as a child. Jean Hersholt is marvelous as the tutor, Dr. Juttner, and then there are the two glowing stars: Norma Shearer and Ramon Novarro, who have terrific on-screen chemistry. Shearer is sweet and touching as Kathi the barmaid, and is also sometimes hilarious.

Novarro is exceptional as the adult prince; slight of build, with a gentle beauty and a huge winning smile, he gives us a thoroughly convincing portrayal, his face expressing subtle emotions not often seen in the silent film genre. Mexican by birth, many critics who reviewed this film when it was released said he was too Latin for the part, but time has proved them wrong.

Novarro and Shearer were actors who managed to make the transition from silent films to "talkies", due to their lovely speaking voices and immense talent; there is not much available in the way of their silent film career to be seen however, so this one is a special treat, and you will find the last scene, and the look on Novarro's face, embedded in your heart and mind for a long time to come.

TV host Joe Franklin, WOR-New York's long-reigning king of 2 am nostalgia (THE JOE FRANKLIN SHOW), has described this most winning of silent classics with affection as "Viennese fairy tale, all sugar and apple blossoms". It certainly ranks as among the unjustly overshadowed films of its caliber. The basic plot is a staple of folklore and film alike: a royal who slips out of character for a brief fling at enjoying the pleasures of the common life, before being recalled to the path of duty(think of the Audrey Hepburn-Gregory Peck vehicle ROMAN HOLIDAY) In this case, young Crown Prince Karl Heinrich (Ramon Novarro), adored since boyhood by his subjects, but chafing under the enforced stuffiness of palace officialdom, passes his pre-collegiate exams with high honors after years of private tutoring by his beloved teacher Dr. Juttner (Jean Hersholt). Passing as just another student at the University of Heidelberg, he revels in the cap-and-jacket camaraderie of drinking with his mates at the local beer garden, presided over by the lovely barmaid Kathi (Norma Shearer), with whom he falls in love, only to find himself recalled to the demands of palace and position when his uncle falls ill. Ramon Novarro had earlier been billed unjustly as "a second Valentino", a straitjacket he escaped handily with his career-making performance a year earlier in the title role in Cecil B. DeMille's BEN-HUR (1926), and here brings warmth and youthful innocence to his role as the Student Prince, with Norma Shearer never more winsome than in her love scenes with Novarro (she wed legendary MGM production chief Irving Thalberg a week after the premiere of this film). Lubitsch's trademark flashes of visual wit are already apparent in this early effort - a dachsund saunters into a garden where Karl Heinrich is engaged in wooing Kathi, and turns around in an instant and departs in knowing discretion after seeing the amorous pair. The moonlit love scenes in the flower-capped hills are among the loveliest tableaux from the silent years, and the stirring score and orchestration provided by Carl Davis, the great silent-film-score composer of our time, deserves special acclaim. This handsome restoration of the original print by that heroic duo, English silent-film scholars Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, easily earns pride of place on the short-shelf of anyone who has ever been moved by the poetry and charm of the silent years.

This Ernst Lubitsch production would have to be one of the most delightful silent films produced. In reality it is a fairytale but done with such sincerity and care for the story and characters that you cannot help but be moved by it and feel strongly for the characters.

Ramon Novarro could not have been more perfectly cast than in this production where he plays the shy and sheltered prince of the title who goes to study at Heidelberg and in the process learns about life and love and finds his place in the world as a result. Never has he given a more totally delightful performance than here and its a joy to watch his character develop from being the withdrawn, pensive prince to the adult realising that he must take up his responsibilities in his kingdom over his love for the lovely barmaid he has fallen for. By this time Ramon was reaching the peak of his silent film stardom having just completed "Ben Hur" and following this film was due to appear in the wonderful south seas romance "The Pagan" which contains possibly his very best performance. Any doubt that Ramon was more than just a second string Valentino is dispelled in "Student Prince" He is at times boyish, romantic, sad ,and ultimately a mature person aware of his responsibilities.

The line "It must be wonderful to be a Prince" is repeated throughout the film by his admiring subjects but really the role he has to play in life is the one thing that creates trouble for Ramon's character of Prince Karl Heinrich. It first removes him from being able to play with other children his own age as a child, to keeping him from really being a student at Heidelberg and finally it denies him his chance to find love with Kathi the young barmaid at the inn where he resides in Heidelberg. Ramon's gentle playing of the prince and the rather sad ending to the film when he sacrifices love for duty will never fail to move you and it's a splendid piece of acting by Ramon Novarro.

He of course is also ably assisted by the wonderful Jean Hersholt as he understanding tutor and friend and by Norma Shearer who is great as the barmaid who must also make a sacrifice and let the Prince go to his destiny. Shearer was just reaching stardom at this time and married Irving Thalberg just after completing this film. She was set to enjoy many years of stardom as the Queen of MGM .

As always the film benefits from the MGM attention to detail and the expertise of every area of production so typical of this period. The VHS print is in a wonderful state of preservation and benefits greatly from the beautiful full orchestral score that has been composed for it.

This Lubitsch production is a delight to behold and vastly superior to the later remake under the title "The Student Prince". For those of you who have an interest in silent films or are just curious to see what one is like , you could not find a better choice than Ernst Lubitsch's "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg"

Having been a silents fan for years, but just now discovering the real gems, through more wide releases of VHS and DVD, I have to say that my first viewing of a silent Lubitsch film was a true delight. Having seen Valentino in at least five films, and Novarro in two (this and Ben Hur), I would say it's unfair to compare the two at all; both exceed in subtly different ways.
I was delighted by this movie, both in the dramatic skills of Novarro and Shearer, who complement each other's gaity and seriousness, and Lubitsch's (well, his Cameraman's) movement of the camera was a shock to me, as I hadn't seen such sophisticated camerawork in such earlier films (as I say, I am still green!); a subtle pan-in to a face, leading to a nice suspense of what is to happen next. The story does not disappoint either, it leaves one interested from the first frame to the last. A true delight, meant for repeated viewing!

I got this movie, sent it to a friend for her to rip to a dvd, because I don't want to risk the tape being damaged. She sent me back the dvd copy, I ripped the film to .avi. I burnt that to a dvd with two other movies.

I love this movie. If you're reading this review, you know what the film is about probably. The tape is in great condition. I saw this once on Turner Classic Movies around 2 or 3 after midnight, and loved it. Great movie.

Have watched this film a number of times and find it an absolute delight. Ramon Novarro's transition from shy Prince to forward thinking Monarch is worth the price of the video. Norma Shearer in an early role is also excellent. A lavish, beautifully put together film that will be a treasured part of any personal film library. A must!

This movie excels on all fronts. The actors are perfect, Novarro is at his most 'ravishing' as he was known in the 20's. Shearer is just beginning to show her star quality that will allow her to dominate the screen at MGM for the next 20 years. Lubitsch makes cinema magic here. There are several scenes that will make you hold your breath, the arrival of the young prince (as boy), the scenes of Novarro coming out of his 'Royal' cocoon as a student, only to be forced back into it as circumstances dictate. This movie was shown at the Royal Albert Hall in London last year with live orchestra (the same orchestration that's on this video) as part of Novarro's centenary celebration (1899-1999). This is a movie that will capture your imagination and though it might be corny to say, your heart too.

My mother is German and loves this movie. I wanted to get it for her birthday. The shipment was fast. The product was packed to prevent damage and it showed up in perfect condition. What more could you ask for? I would use this vendor again.

A truly delightful and oddly unheralded silent, "The Student Prince" shows Ramon Novarro at his most charming, and reveals the dramatic impact that Norma Shearer would deliver in a few short years. It has the Lubitsch touch in abundance and is a must see.