Congress Dances

 

Congress Dances - 1931 | 85 mins | Musical | B&W

The Production Team

Director: Erik Charell.
Producer: Erich Pommer.
Script: Norbert Falk and Robert Liebmann. Adapted by Rowland V. Lee.
Cinematography: Carl Hoffmann.
Editing: Viktor Gertler.
Art Direction: Robert Herlth and Walter Röhrig.
Costume Design: Ernst Stern.
Sound: Fritz Thiery.
Original Music: Werner R, Heymann.

The Cast

Lillian Harvey - Christel Weinzinger
Willy Fritsch - Czar Alexander of Russia
Otto Wallburg - Bibikoff
Conrad Veidt - Prince Metternich
Carl-Heinz - Schroth Pepi
Lil Dagover - The Countess
Alfred Abel - King of Saxony

Plot Synopsis

An outstanding musical, one of the few to challenge Hollywood’s supremacy in the field during the early sound period. The film was released in English, French and German language versions.

Full of gaiety and spectacle, the story is set during the 1814 Congress in Vienna, where waltzes and women edge war into the background. Prince Metternich (Conrad Veidt) conspires to keep his political rival Czar Alexander of Russia (Willy Fritsch) away from the negotiating table by distracting the Czar with a bevy of beautiful women. But Alexander has a scheme himself; the Russian leader has engaged the services of an exact double so it can appear that the Czar is everywhere at once. Christel Weinzinger (Lillian Harvey), finds herself in the enviable position of being courted by both the Czar and his look-alike.