Ein Lied geht um die Welt

A diminutive classical tenor and his two equally penniless performing buddies seek fame and love in 1930s Venice. Eventually Richardo succeeds in radio, but his stature hinders his dream of starring on stage. And will it also prevent him from finding love? The answer will surprise you. The movie features plenty of singing by Schmidt plus some great exterior location shots in Venice, including gondola travel and an extended walk along quays and over bridges in a city still spared the intrusion of the automobile.

This film can appeal to fans of various genre: German cinema, Holocaust periphera, Venice, and great tenors. Schmidt reportedly was unhappy with the subject matter-- his own shortness (in life he was sometimes referred to as a "pocket Caruso". But the film works and it partly truly reflects his own life, where he succeeded much better in recordings and film than he did on stage. He continued to make German film until 1936, and remained popular in parts of Nazi-occupied Europe until his escape to Switzerland in 1940, where he died in an internment camp two years later. The IMDb lists him at 5 foot (1.52m), and that may be generous; in the movie he wears elevator shoes that must give him 6 inches (15cm).

When I was young my Mum introduced me to the beauty of the tenor voices of Gigli and Caruso but I had to later discover for myself the likes of Schipa, Di Stefano, and the subject of this film Joseph Schmidt. The first song I heard of his was about 20 years ago - the strength of Te Quiero, Morena from 1930 led me to believe he was a powerfully built giant, how wrong I was is perfectly displayed in this film! He was about 5 foot tall – and he clumped about in here in platform shoes too - and not what you might call a leading man. A career on the operatic stage being almost impossible he did plenty of radio work, and a handful of films to let people see and hear him.

He and his two penniless friends are looking for work in picturesque Venice, they all find work in a show and he also finds love in a record shop. Does the tall beautiful girl fall for him or his tall handsome friend? That's all there is to it, for this was just an unashamedly simple vehicle for Schmidt to show his talent – to let his song be heard around the world, and bask in the love of the unseen millions instead. A few highlights are trying to gain the theatre director's attention with a very confident Land So Wunderbar (O Paradiso), studying the reactions of people to his record Launisches Gluck being played, and a stately rendition accompanying himself on piano of Santa Lucia with a lovely steady vocal tone.

Sadly after the outbreak of WW2 on the run from the German government for being Jewish he failed to escape to America, and died of disease aged 38 in a Swiss refugee camp in 1942. As an understatement: What a voice, lost too early.