Review by tentender

Saw this film last night at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris, in the course of the Douglas Sirk "integrale" (complete retrospective). Sirk himself calls this film "Viennese pastry," and adds that, after the heaviness of "Schlussakkord" he felt the need of something light. Light it is, but also marvelously inventive. I was reminded of Ophuls's film of "The Bartered Bride," not only in that the two principals in both films are singers and very appealing, but, too, that Sirk, like Ophuls, tells his tale in a deliciously opulent way. The screen seems to be constantly filled with new and beautiful detail, the camera usually in swinging, swirling motion. A very baroque film.

Marta Eggerth, later well known to American audiences for her appearances in operetta with her husband tenor Jan Kiepura, has the appeal of a European Jeanette MacDonald, and her co-star, Johannes Heesters, is wonderfully handsome, with a winning (and almost ever-present) smile. Charming film, very entertaining, and worth seeing for the mise-en-scene alone.