''Franz Schubert'' (original German title: ''Franz Schubert – Ein Leben in zwei Sätzen'') is a 1953 Austrian film depicting composer

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wo ...

's life and work. It was shot at the

Rosenhügel Studios The Rosenhügel Studios are film studios located in the Austrian capital Vienna. They were opened in 1923 and originally owned by the Vita-Film production company. After the company's bankruptcy the following year the studios were taken over by S ...

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

with sets designed by the art director

Leo Metzenbauer Leo Metzenbauer (15 January 1910 – 10 April 1993) was an Austrian art director.Kaul p.28 Selected filmography * '' Daughter of the Regiment'' (1953) * '' The Schimeck Family'' (1957) * ''The Forests Sing Forever'' (1959) * '' Gustav Adolf's ...

Plot

Franz Schubert works as an assistant teacher in the school led by his father. In his spare time, however, the young man, who considers

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

to be his unattainable role model, devotes himself to writing music. As public acceptance is denied to him, his friends lobby at the music publisher

Anton Diabelli Anton (or Antonio) Diabelli (5 September 17818 April 1858) was an Austrian music publisher, editor and composer. Best known in his time as a publisher, he is most familiar today as the composer of the waltz on which Ludwig van Beethoven wrote ...

for a public performance of Schubert's music. During a reception, at which Schubert performs his ''

Ave Maria The Hail Mary ( la, Ave Maria) is a traditional Christian prayer addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on two biblical passages featured in the Gospel of Luke: the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary (the Annunciation) and Mary's ...

'', he gets to know singer Therese Grob. Schubert decides to quit the employment at his father's and, instead, to concentrate merely on music, and moves in his with friends, poets Franz von Schober and

Moritz von Schwind 200px, Moritz von Schwind, c. 1860. Moritz von Schwind (21 January 1804 – 8 February 1871) was an Austrian painter, born in Vienna. Schwind's genius was lyrical—he drew inspiration from chivalry, folklore, and the songs of the people. Schwind ...

and painter Johann Mayerhofer. There, he is inspired to set

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...

s ballad ''

Der Erlkönig Der or DER may refer to: Places * Darkənd, Azerbaijan * Dearborn (Amtrak station) (station code), in Michigan, US * Der (Sumer), an ancient city located in modern-day Iraq * d'Entrecasteaux Ridge, an oceanic ridge in the south-west Pacific Oc ...

'' to music. Schubert friends encourage him to play his music in public. Schubert and Therese, who sings his songs, are made one. The two make a living with performing Schuberts songs. Schubert, though, develops doubts, whether he can express himself in songs appropriately, and so decides to turn to writing symphonies and operas. As Schubert applies for the position of a Vice Director of Music, Therese hands over to the Secretary of the Court Theatre Schuberts latest work, the ''

Unfinished Symphony An unfinished symphony is a fragment of a symphony, by a particular composer, that musicians and academics consider incomplete or unfinished for various reasons. The archetypal unfinished symphony is Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 (sometimes ...

''. Disagreements arise during the rehearsals for Schubert's latest opera, as the singer of the leading part considers the music too difficult to sing. Music publishers Tobias Haslinger and

reject his music. Even his very promising application as a Vice Director of Music proves to be unsuccessful. Thus, depressed Schubert decides to tour his songs in order to make a living. In this period of time, he writes the ''

Winterreise ''Winterreise'' (, ''Winter Journey'') is a song cycle for voice and piano by Franz Schubert ( D. 911, published as Op. 89 in 1828), a setting of 24 poems by German poet Wilhelm Müller. It is the second of Schubert's two song cycles on Müller' ...

''. After having returned, Schubert decides to have lessons in counterpoint with Beethoven, but shies away from contacting his idol. Shortly later, while being plagued by health problems, Schubert gets a visit from Beethoven's secretary

Anton Schindler Anton Felix Schindler (13 June 1795 in Medlov – 16 January 1864 in Bockenheim (Frankfurt am Main)) was an Austrian law clerk and associate, secretary, and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven. Life Schindler moved to Vienna in 1813 to s ...

. Sickly Beethoven sends some Goethe poems to Schubert to be set in music, as Beethoven regards Schubert to be the better song composer. As Schubert wants to visit Beethoven, he arrives too late: Beethoven has died. Schubert is one of the torchbearers during Beethoven's funeral. Suffering from more and more serious health problems, Schubert is no longer able to perceive the success of a public performance of his music. He dies one year after his idol.

Cast

* Heinrich Schweiger:

Aglaja Schmid Aglaja Schmid (1926–2003) was an Austrian stage and film actress.Fritsche, p. 232. She was married to the theatre and film director Rudolf Steinboeck. Selected filmography * '' The Other Life'' (1948) * '' The Trial'' (1948) * ''Dreaming Da ...

: Therese Grob *

Hans Thimig Hans Emil Thimig, pseudonym: Hans Werner (23 July 1900 in Vienna – 17 February 1991, also in Vienna) was an Austrian actor, film director, and stage director. Life The youngest son of the Burgtheater actor Hugo Thimig and Franziska "Fanny" ...

: Father Schubert *

Karl Bosse Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl Marx, German philosopher and political writer * Karl of Austria, last Austri ...

: Heinrich Grob *

Maria Eis Maria Eis (born Prague, 22 February 1896 - died Vienna, 18 December 1954) was an Austrian actress of stage and screen. Between 1918 and 1923 Eis performed on stage at the ''Neue Wiener Bühne'' (New Vienna stage), the ''Renaissancebühne'' (Re ...

: Madame Schechner *

Rolf Wanka Rolf Wanka (14 February 1901 – 28 November 1982) was an Austrian actor. Biography He was of Czech, German and French origin. His father was Dr. Josef Wanka was head physician in Vienna. His mother was Emma Pippich. His family owned a mans ...

: Franz Schober * Louis Soldan: Moritz von Schwind * Michael Janisch: Bergmann *

Anni Korin Anni may refer to: * The popular name of Mohamed Nasheed (born 1967), third president of the second republic of the Maldives * Ani, Armenia * Anni Anwander, former West German slalom canoeist * Anni Dewani (1982–2010), Swedish female murder vi ...

: Netty *

Erwin Strahl Erwin Strahl (12 February 1929 – 20 April 2011) was an Austrian actor. From 1966 until his death, he was married to Austrian actress Waltraut Haas Waltraut Haas (born 9 June 1927) is an Austrian actress and singer. Born in Vienna, Haas grew ...

: Johann Mayerhofer * Karl Mittner: Ferdinand Schubert * Fritz Hinz-Fabricius: Court opera singer Vogl *

Richard Eybner Richard Eybner (March 3, 1896 – June 20, 1986) was an Austrian actor at the theatre and in films. Selected filmography * '' Spring Parade'' (1934) * ''Peter'' (1934) * '' Little Mother'' (1935) * ''Dance Music'' (1935) * ''The Postman from Lon ...

: Secretary of the Court theatre * Chariklia Baxevanos: Young girl *

Fritz Imhoff Fritz Imhoff, real name: Friedrich Arnold Heinrich Jeschke (January 6, 1891, Alsergrund February 24, 1961, Wieden) was an Austrian actor. He was a brother of the Wienerlied composer (18901962). Selected filmography * '' Daughter of the Regi ...

: * Senta Wengraf * Fred Hennings *

Otto Treßler Otto Treßler, also Otto Tressler, (13 April 1871 – 27 April 1965) was a German-Austrian stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1915 and 1962. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Vienna, Austria. He was ...

Franz Pfaudler Franz Pfaudler (1893–1956) was an Austrian stage and film actor.Giesen p.200 Selected filmography * ''My Life for Maria Isabella'' (1935) * ''Renate in the Quartet'' (1939) * ''Der Postmeister'' (1940) * ''Heimkehr'' (1941) * '' Anuschka'' (194 ...

Alma Seidler Alma Seidler (1 June 1899 – 8 December 1977) was an Austrian actress. She was member of the Burgtheater for over 50 years. Biography Alma Seidler was born in Leoben, the daughter of Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg. The later Burgtheater dir ...

* Susanne Engelhart *

Karl Ehmann Karl Ehmann (13 August 1882 – 1 November 1967) was an Austrian stage and film actor whose career spanned both the silent and sound eras of the film industry. Career Born on 13 August 1882 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, he became interested in ac ...

* Marianne Gerzner * Franz Herterich * Gisa Wurm

External links

* {{Franz Schubert 1953 films 1950s biographical drama films Austrian biographical drama films 1950s German-language films Biographical films about musicians Films about classical music and musicians Films directed by Walter Kolm-Veltée Films shot in Vienna Films set in Vienna Films set in the 1810s Films set in the 1820s Film Films about composers 1950s historical drama films Austrian historical drama films Films shot at Rosenhügel Studios