''The Great Waltz'' is a 1972 American

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

directed by

Andrew L. Stone Andrew L. Stone (July 16, 1902 – June 9, 1999) was an Americans, American screenwriter, film director and producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film ''Julie (1956 film), Julie'' in 1957 and re ...

, and starring

Horst Buchholz Horst Werner Buchholz (4 December 1933 – 3 March 2003) was a German actor who appeared in more than 60 feature films from 1951 to 2002. During his youth, he was sometimes called "the German James Dean". He is perhaps best known in English- ...

Mary Costa Mary Costa (born April 5, 1930) is an American retired actress and singer. Her most notable film credit is providing the voice of Princess Aurora in the 1959 Disney animated film ''Sleeping Beauty'', of which she is the last surviving original vo ...

, and

Nigel Patrick Nigel Patrick (born Nigel Dennis Patrick Wemyss-Gorman; 2 May 1912 – 21 September 1981) was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family. During the late 1940s and 1950s, he became known as a debonair leading man in Brit ...

, that follows 40 years in the life of composer Johann Strauss (the Younger, known as the "Waltz King") and his family. It is based on the

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

'' The Great Waltz'', and was Stone's final film.

M-G-M Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

released a previous film adaptation in 1938, which is about a different phase of the younger Strauss's life. The film earned $1,650,000 in North American rentals in 1973."Big Rental Films of 1973", ''Variety'', 9 January 1974, p. 60

Plot

In 1840s

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Johann Strauss I Johann Baptist Strauss I (; also Johann Strauss Sr., the Elder, the Father; 14 March 1804 – 25 September 1849) was an Austrian composer of the Romantic music, Romantic Period. He was famous for his light music, namely waltzes, polkas, and galo ...

(Nigel Patrick) is conducting an orchestra in a ballroom full of dancers, when he is interrupted by his furious estranged wife, who confronts him about the fact that his notorious mistress is planning to name her new baby son by him with the name Johann, the same as Strauss's legitimate son,

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

(Horst Buchholz). After the elder Strauss, as well as the mistress, refuse the wife's demand to change the baby's name, Strauss's wife retaliates by informing the elder Strauss that his son has embarked on a career as a violinist, in direct contradiction to the elder Strauss's wishes, as such a career would consign his son to a life equivalent to a servant. With the initial help of his mother, and through his talent and cleverness, the younger Strauss is able to find a position in an orchestra. At his debut as a conductor, he is roundly booed by a hostile audience, led by friends of his father. He persists on stage, however, playing one of his own compositions on violin, while leading the orchestra. His determination wins over the audience with great acclaim. Upon hearing the news of his son's success, the elder Strauss listens in on one of his performances, and hearing his son's words of tribute to him, he is moved to tears, and is won over to his son's career and ambition. Shortly afterwards, the elder Strauss dies of

scarlet fever Scarlet fever, also known as Scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by ''Streptococcus pyogenes'' a Group A streptococcus (GAS). The infection is a type of Group A streptococcal infection (Group A strep). It most commonly affects childr ...

, and the younger Strauss is given the position of leading his father's orchestra. By the time he reaches age 37, Strauss has achieved enormous success, and along the way has had numerous frivolous affairs with women, all while remaining single, leading his friends and his mother to be concerned for his well-being. At one of his performances, his catches the eye of

Jetty Treffz Henrietta "Jetty" Treffz (; ; 1 July 1818, in Alsergrund – 8 April 1878, in Hietzing) was best known as the first wife of Johann Strauss II and a well-known mezzo-soprano appearing in England in 1849 to great acclaim. Biography Henri ...

(Mary Costa), who is the mistress of a baron, and seven years older than him. At a subsequent dinner, he is invited to dine with Jetty and the baron. The two of them dance together to Strauss's orchestra, and begin to fall in love. Strauss invites Jetty and the baron to a concert, at which Jetty is to sing. The baron, sensing Jetty's interest in Strauss, attempts to scuttle the plans with a sudden business trip, but Jetty insists on delaying her own departure, in order to fulfill her promise to sing. After the concert, Strauss expresses his feelings of love to Jetty, and invites to perform with him for the Emperor. Jetty at first flees from him, but then cancels her plans to join the baron on his trip, and instead joins Strauss at his performance, singing for

Franz Joseph Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...

, while Strauss accompanies her on the violin. Despite the warnings of the insistent Baron concerning her age, and Strauss's reputation with women, Jetty leaves the heartbroken Baron and marries Strauss. Strauss's mother is unwelcoming of the idea, but after a visit by the Baron, who seeks to aid Jetty's happiness in her marriage, the mother's heart melts, and she rushes to the church in time to congratulate her son and his new bride. With Jetty by his side, Strauss achieves the pinnacle of fame, playing in the finest concert halls. He also embarks on the most productive time of his career, composing some of his most well-known pieces, including ''

The Blue Danube "The Blue Danube" is the common English title of "An der schönen blauen Donau", Op. 314 (German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. Originally performed on 15 Februa ...

'', which he presents to a disastrous debut by his insistence on using inferior and sarcastic lyrics, against the tearful protestations of Jetty. Strauss is then invited to perform at the

Paris Exposition of 1867 The International Exposition of 1867 (french: Exposition universelle 'art et d'industriede 1867), was the List of world expositions, second world's fair to be held in Paris, from 1 April to 3 November 1867. A number of nations were represente ...

, which he considers an incredible opportunity. Strauss's mother is overjoyed until Jetty confides to her a secret that she has a grown son who lives in Paris, and who will probably blackmail her.

Cast

as Johann Strauss, Jr. *

as Johann Strauss, Sr. *

Yvonne Mitchell Yvonne Mitchell (born Yvonne Frances Joseph; 7 July 1915 – 24 March 1979) was an English actress and author. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s. Her roles include Julia in the 1954 BBC ...

as Anna Strauss *

Rossano Brazzi Rossano Brazzi (18 September 1916 – 24 December 1994) was an Italian actor. Biography Brazzi was born in Bologna, Italy, the son of Maria Ghedini and Adelmo Brazzi, an employee of the Rizzoli shoe factory. He was named after Rossano Vene ...

as Moritz Tedesco *

Susan Robinson The Robinson family is a fictional family in the children's television series ''Sesame Street''. The family consists of husband Gordon, a high school science teacher, and his wife, Susan, a nurse. Later, the family expands to include their adopted ...

as Emilie Trampusch * George Howe as Karl Frederick Hirsch *

Vicki Woolf Vicki Woolf (born 1942) is a British actress known mostly for her roles in television. She appeared in fourteen episodes of '' Honey Lane'' during the 1960s. In the 1980s she featured in the sitcom ''Three Up, Two Down''. She guest starred on va ...

as Lili Weyl * James Faulkner as

Josef Strauss Josef Strauss (20 August 1827 – 22 July 1870) was an Austrian composer. He was born in Mariahilf (now Vienna), the son of Johann Strauss I and Maria Anna Streim, and brother of Johann Strauss II and Eduard Strauss. His father wanted him to cho ...

* Paola Loew as Princess Pauline Metternich * as Louise

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Waltz, The 1972 films 1970s historical musical films 1970s biographical films American historical musical films American biographical films Films directed by Andrew L. Stone Films about classical music and musicians Films about composers Films set in Austria Films set in the 19th century Remakes of American films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Cultural depictions of Johann Strauss I Cultural depictions of Johann Strauss II 1970s English-language films 1970s American films

Plot

Cast

See also

References