Liebelei

"Liebelei" is generally considered to be the highlight of the German period of Max Ophuls.

The story is rather simple. Two friends (Fritz and Theo) are meeting two girls (Christine and Mizzi). From this meeting two relationships emerge. One relationship (between Theo and Mizzi) is just for the fun while the other (between Fritz and Christine) runs much deeper.

The story resembles "Letter to Brezhnev" (1985, Chris Bernard). This film is however about two working girls and two sailors, while "Liebelei" is situated in the 19th century world of military officers with their code of honor. In "Letter to Brezhnev" the threat to the relationship was the departure of the sailors. In "Liebelei" it is a duel for which Fritz has been challenged. The world of "Liebelei" is also the world of Alexander Pushkin in his short story "The gunshot", in which also a duel comes at a time when a man is least prepared for it (also due to a love affair).

The story of "Liebelei" is relatively simple, but it is beautifully told. The scene where Fritz meets Christine for the first time, the scene of the duel and the scene in which the outcome of the duel is told to Christine are all magnificent. The duel scene is in no way inferior to the duel scene in "Barry Lyndon" (1975, Stanley Kubrick) and the despair of Christine equals the despair of Cloris Leachman in the most intense scene of "The last picture show" (1971, Peter Bogdanovich).

For this film Max Ophuls wanted four upcoming talents in the leading roles and some experienced actors in supporting roles. This casting strategy works out perfectly. The role of Christine is played by Magda Schneider. Twenty two years later her daughter Romy Schneider would play the same character in "Christine" (1958, Pierre Gaspard-Huit).

At the beginning, let me refer to my school memories. I remember discussions with my teacher of literature about the core of romanticism: its Utopian ideals and its Human perceptions. I had considered it as a purely literary abstraction until I saw this classical representative of romanticism in European cinema.

The noteworthy story by Arthur Schnitzler could not see a better moment for its screen adaptation than the early 1930s, the period which saw the emergence of sound. Moreover, films could still avoid the propaganda mechanisms and requirements of censorship that were slowly approaching. No doubt this time saw some unforgettable movie productions of sensitively handled romance with exceptional artistry. Meanwhile, truly great talents had a chance to emerge. All seemed to be new, young, inexperienced, genuine and captivating...something that the storyline so nicely executes here. In fact, isn't that 'freshness' what the romantic content is all about?

However, the content of LIEBELEI may occur to us quite predictable nowadays and surely does not, in itself, contribute to the top strengths of the movie. Duality of feelings, short happiness and inevitable sorrow, dramatic decisions, harshness of duels, 'misplaced honor' (as many reviewers put it) occur quite a prefabricated stuff that may as well fail to appeal to many viewers now. What requires particular attention in LIEBELEI is the manner everything is executed.

Scenes of exceptional charm contribute to the movie's vital representation of 'artistic collaboration' between producers' creativity and viewers' perceptions. Although the entire movie is filled with beautiful visual imagery, these few that need a special mention are: Christine/Fritz's idyllic sleigh ride when their love seems to be as white as snow; opera sequence with no 'coincidence' of falling binoculars; Christine/Fritz's walk through the streets of Vienna; the waltz Fritz dances FIRST with Christine and THEN ... with the Baroness. The use of mirrors nicely highlights the undertone of duality. However, the film no longer resembles many 'silent' features and, we can say proudly: It has stood a test of time because it is PURELY a developed talkie. Why?

Max Ophuels, as a rather unknown director at that time (LIEBELEI was his fifth feature) does not imply any characteristic style pursued but occurs to be fresh in the medium experimenting with directorial possibilities and methods at hand in 1933. This 'rich simplicity,' as well as 'emotional puzzle' and 'expressive use of the dialog' (with reference to Jesus Cortes's review) seem to take over at multiple levels and, consequently, appeal to us in a powerful manner. The cameraman Franz Planer proves his skills in some technically flawless camera movements, just to note a significant shot of Fritz and the Baron while the former one leaves the mansion in secret and the latter one comes there with suspicion. Among other crew, Theo Mackeben nicely contributes to the film's atmosphere. Thanks to music, both the tunes of waltzes and the classical pieces by Mozart and Beethoven, we may feel the charm of the early 20th century Vienna when the monarchy was still in its pinnacle. The use of classical music: some doubts may arise with Beethoven's 5th symphony in the emotionally climactic moment as a bit disturbing. Depends on how you perceive it. But where the truly memorable impact of this movie lies is in the acting.

Two couples in the lead, seemingly, but only one person who stands out and steals the attention. That is MAGDA SCHNEIDER, Romy's mother in her youth (mind you it is 1933 when she was still not married to Wolf Albach-Retty). Many viewers know her from her mature age on the screen in the color 'Heimatfilme.' Also for them, her role in LIEBELEI will be extremely surprising. If someone sees the film entirely for the sake of Magda Schneider, she/he will not be disappointed. The whole spectrum of her abilities lies in portraying the rather naive but very genuine and honest character whose ideal state of life is love (a purely romantic character). In the beautiful scene, she says to her beloved Fritz about being content with whatever happens - she found love and that makes for all happiness. In the extraordinary finale sequence with the over-long close-up, Ms Schneider proves an extraordinary talent depicting all feelings, from confusion, shock, disbelief, fear to unimaginable grief. The camera is placed in such a way that we see her like the people who come with bad tidings. The moment is a masterpiece. But Miss Schneider does not only act in LIEBELEI…she also sings a folk song "Schwesterlein" which expresses enthusiasm with nostalgia hidden in the inner life?

OTHER CAST: Wolfgang Liebeneiner is adequate but not outstanding as Fritz…his duality is constantly highlighted, he is not very believable in the scenes with Christine because there is another reality that exists in his life… Mr Liebeneiner is most memorable when he visits Christine's house to say 'goodbye' and she is not there. What emerges from his acting is realizing a sad fact. He really opens his eyes to what situation he has found himself in, he has placed himself in. Luise Ullrich and Carl Esmond depict the contrary couple with less romantic feelings, perhaps, but more stable future. This is particularly visible in Mizzi's character (Ullrich) contrasted to Christine's: romantic versus rational. Among the supporting cast, a mention must be made of Paul Hoerbiger, Gustaf Gruendgens and Olga Tschechowa who supply the movie with the feeling of promising days in Austrian cinema.

An outstanding production and unique in its medium is clearly more Magda Schneider's artistic victory than Max Ophuels's. Much later, remade as CHRISTINE with Romy Schneider, the story proved its popularity among audiences. The classical LIEBELEI, as a supreme production accordingly, is truly a milestone that stands on its own.

Following Christine's thoughts in the movie, viewers are deeply influenced by its romantic mood and its concept of 'eternity.' What is 'endless?' Longer than one lives...perhaps...but not longer than one loves.

This is Max Ophul's fifth film, his first major success and the first to characterise his inimitable style. The use of Mozart and Beethoven is appropriate here as this film is more classical than his later baroque masterpieces whilst the theme of love as a vicious circle is one that he was to develop to such masterly effect.

Less ironic and more romantic than Schnitzler's original, it also casts a critical eye on the military mentality and Theo's impassioned 'Any shot that is not fired in self defense is murder' would have been sure to rattle a few cages in the Germany of 1933. The director, his art designer and cinematographer have skilfully recreated Imperial Vienna and Ophuls had to wait fifteen years before revisiting the city built on the backlot of Universal for 'Letter from an unknown Woman' which holds the unique distinction of being the only film made in Hollywoodland that is completely European!

A fascinating cast includes some whose careers were to thrive under the Third Reich but whether the adherence of Wolfgang Liebeneiner and Gustaf Gruendgens in particular was genuine or based on sheer opportunism is debatable. Leibeneiner directed the notorious 'Ich Klage an', which promoted the T4 Euthanasia Programme but redeemed himself by later making 'Liebe '47' which showed how 'good people' had been conned by Nazi ideology. The life and career of the classy and mysterious Olga Tschechowa would make a film in itself!

The role of Christine had been played on stage by the superlative Paula Wessely but she was not considered photogenic enough. Ophuls has elicited a magnificent performance from the enchanting Magda Schneider whose utter desolation in her final two minute close-up is one of the most moving on film and years ahead of its time. The remake from 1960 reminds us that Romy Schneider inherited her mother's capacity to tug at the heartstrings.

Ophuls and his family had already fled Germany before the premiere in Berlin with both his name and that of Schnitzler's missing from the titles and the film was subsequently banned by the Allied Commission. Despite these setbacks its brilliance still shone through and in the director's words, " The film was born under a lucky star."

The camera of Franz Planer follows the protagonists in long tracking shots, observes precisely the development of an affection and later deep love between Fritz (Wolfgang Liebeneiner) and Christine (Magda Schneider) during the nightly walk through the sleeping city and their endless swings of waltzing through the empty coffee bar. It is also great how Ophüls exemplarily trusts in the viewer's imagination to make things visible. The couple has forgotten the world around them, being only close together, overwhelmed by the feelings, which suddenly arise in them. The slow waltz resembles a soft hug, but the melancholy in this dance is perceptible and especially Fritz, who has a secret tête-à-tête with a bored baroness, seems to fear, that the love for Christine might not have a happy ending.

And last but not least some words about Gustaf Gründgens who plays the cheated baron: In the scenes, he is acting mainly only with looks, with stringent, frigid looks, that whoosh across the room like bullets. The precision of his performance is masterful and probably the best in this film.

I caught this film years back at the Cinematheque in Paris and was finally able to chase down a copy. This film works beautifully on so many levels it's hard to know where to begin or what to include. It is a class study in turn-of-the-century Vienna with a love affair that transcends some but not all of the social barriers. There are misunderstandings a la Schnitzler in the rigid system and the now absurd dueling scene with its "male honor" at stake. But the camera is constantly on the prowl, weaving in and out and omitting at times as much as it shows, Ophuls visual addition. The sleigh-ride sequence is exactly as I remembered it and justifiably famous. My copy is missing all the Jewish credits at the beginning.

Curtis Stotlar