The Great Waltz Film Based On Johann Strauss

The Great Waltz is an American film of 1938 which is loosely based on the life of the great Austrian Waltz King, Johann Strauss. It was directed by Julien Duvuvier and starred many European artists of the time including Fernand Gravet and Milijza Korjus. The film was produced by MGM and received the Oscar for Best Cinematography and was also nominated for two other Academy Awards.

The Great Waltz has a triangular love affair for its plot, written by Gottfried Reinhardt. Strauss is famous all over Europe as a great waltz artist but his wife Poldi Vogelhuber cannot share his love and affections. She watches in pained silence as Strauss indulges in a lengthy affair with an opera singer, Carla Donner. However husband and wife try to reconcile their differences before being introduced to the court of Emperor Franz Josef.

One of the most memorable scenes of The Great Waltz is the one in which Gravet and Korjus improvise The Tales of the Vienna Woods while taking a buggy ride in the country. The film meanders into mush and sentimentality as the affair gets out but even today the film never fails to earn applause from the viewers for its lavish costumes and classic grandeur. One the most beautifully photographed scenes is that of Rainier when she learns that Garveys character is having an affair with Korjus.

The Great Waltz starred European singing sensation Fernand Gravet in the role of Joseph Strauss while the opera singer was played by Miljza Korjus in her only American film. Top MGM star and two-time Academy award winner Louise Rainier was top billed as Poldi Vogelhuber even though she was actually cast in a comparative minor role as Strauss wife. The original Strauss tunes were adapted to the concept of the film by Dmitri Tiomkin while official director Julien Duvuvier received valuable help from an uncredited Joseph Von Sternberg in filming several crucial scenes.

The film The Great Waltz was loosely adapted from the Broadway musical which made its debut on September 22, 1934. The stage musical used themes by Johan Strauss I and Johan Strauss II. While the stage production featured lyrics by Desmond Carter, the 1938 movie had a new book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The story of the stage musical is loosely based on the real-life rivalry between Johan Strauss I and Johan Strauss II, allegedly because the father resented his sons greater talent.

In 1972 another film with the title The Great Waltz was made which starred Horst Bucholtz. However the film proved to be a disaster and sank without a trace. This had actually followed a 1970 stage revival of the original Broadway musical. The lyrics and musical adaptation of the 1970 stage revival were given by Robert Wright and George Forest. The show opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on 9th July 1970 and ran for 605 performances. Wikipedia