Synopsis
Vienna glove-sales-lady Christel falls in love with Russian Czar Alexander. Austrian Prince Metternich tries to use this and other pleasant diversions to keep him out of the negotiation conferences of the 1815 Vienna Congress.
The Congress Dances
1931 ‘Der Kongress tanzt’ Directed by Erik Charell
Cast
Director
Additional Directing
Producer
Executive Producer
Writers
Editor
Cinematography
Additional Photography
Art Direction
Composer
Sound
Costume Design
Studio
Country
Original Language
Spoken Languages
Alternative Titles
El congreso se divierte, Der Kongreß tanzt, Le congrès s'amuse, Il congresso si diverte, 国会舞曲
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The Congress Dances is, superficially, a charming interwar trifle, a film that is at once light as air, and sneakily foreboding in its acknowledgement of the temporary nature of both peace and happiness. One of the myriad UFA films starring Willy Fritsch and Lilian Harvey as romantic leads, this one takes place at the Congress of Vienna, during which Prince Metternich (Conrad Veidt) schemes, Czar Alexander of Russia (Fritsch) falls in love with a glove merchant (Harvey as Christel Weinzinger), and everyone dances and sings and pretends the future will be fine, for as long as they can.
Fritsch plays not only the tsar, but also his body double, Uralsky, brought along for safety reasons, and also to keep the…
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this lavish ufa production is a sheer delight from beginning to end. during the congress of vienna, prince metternich spends his time feverishly arranging to keep the tsar away from the conference table. little does he know that alexander has a double, taxed with attending engagements he'd rather avoid. this comes in handy when juggling the romantic partners metternich keeps throwing in his path as well. lilian harvey is a marvel as the salesgirl who falls for alexander and, to the astonishment of her friends, is set up in a villa, only to find he's soon forgotten her. metternich's aide is charged with keeping the romance ablaze, much to his distress as he's in love with the girl himself. conrad…
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Mon pusher de raretés veidtiennes m’a envoyé celui-ci en me balançant un irrévérencieux « Enjoy the ridiculously slutty Metternich breakfasts! ».
Bien que je tente de ne pas laisser mon challenge bifurquer vers l’objectification du sujet, je dois admettre que l’enthousiasme avec lequel Connie dévore sa collection de tartinades au lit transcende l’épicurisme. Pas autant que son ravage du souper jambon-beurre dans The Spy in Black (tsé, la scène ma foi très intense se concluant par un allumage de cigarettes très wink wink nudge nudge), mais assez pour justifier la rédaction d’un paragraphe impertinent sur LB.
M’enfin. Der Kongress tanzt, c’est pas juste du bourrage de fraise sensuel en puffy shirt, c’est aussi des p’tites chansons, des bals, des manigances et autres trips de bourges. C’est charmant, vif et magnifiquement filmé (ces mouvements de caméra!), en plus d’être empreint d’une mini touche lubitschienne pas haïssable. Et oui, I did enjoy les petits-déjeuners affriolants de Metternich.
Version allemande 🇩🇪
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Still amazed about the way Charell turns the whole world into music. One key aspect is that it is a process, and a destructive one, at that. It's not about a steady stream of music flowing through the world at all times, but about introducing a kernel of pure music, one simple melody and then feeding it with world, taking in ever more extras, sets, props, one sequence shot at the time. Until the music has used up everything.
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Chaotic, exuberant, silly and horny alternate history phantasmagoria. Like something out of pre-code Hollywood set in Habsburg Vienna, it’s also a rumination on the (im)possibility of dreams coming true. All fun and games, with a bitter aftertaste.
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Come for the sweeping camera movements, stay for the facial expressions during the spanking scene, and be haunted for weeks by Paul Hörbiger, Heurigensänger from hell. "Und jetzt noch ein Rausschmeißer!"
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There was a lot of baggage I had to set aside before I could engage with this, and I really hated the music... but the whole thing was beautifully crafted, with a scattering of delightful moments... and then in the last reel, somehow it all got transmuted into the purest bliss.
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A very elegant musical filled with famous German names and faces. Humorous plot and wonderful cinematic filming. Lilian Harvey is cute in her role as she gets pursued by various men set in a very glamorous presentation. Well worth your time.
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"Ich bin immer noch der Selbe, nur heute ist mir so... Zurückhaltend! Träumerisch! Lyrisch! Romantisch!"
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O Congresso Dança estreava há 90 anos em Viena.
Surpreendentemente esse é meu primeiro filme com Lilian Harvey e embora tenha lá seu charme, não é nenhum Lubitsch.
BlurayRip VXT.