''The Land of Smiles'' (german: Das Land des Lächelns) is a 1930

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

operetta film Operetta films (German: Operettenfilm) are a genre of musical films associated with, but not exclusive to, German language cinema. The genre began in the late 1920s, but its roots stretch back into the tradition of nineteenth century Viennese ope ...

directed by

Max Reichmann Max Reichmann (1884-1958) was a German film director active during the silent and early sound eras. Before making his own films, Reichmann worked as an assistant director on several E.A. Dupont productions. After graduating to directing, he direc ...

and starring

Richard Tauber Richard Tauber (16 May 1891 – 8 January 1948) was an Austrian tenor and film actor. Early life Richard Tauber was born in Linz, Austria, to Elisabeth Seifferth (née Denemy), a widow and an actress who played soubrette roles at the local theat ...

, Mary Losseff and

Hans Mierendorff Hans Mierendorff (born Johannes Reingold Mierendorff; 30 June 1882 – 26 December 1955) was a German stage and film actor. Selected filmography * '' A Night of Horror'' (1916) * '' Vengeance Is Mine'' (1916) * '' Hilde Warren und der Tod' ...

. It is an adaptation of the operetta ''

The Land of Smiles ''The Land of Smiles'' (German: ') is a 1929 romantic operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár. The German language libretto was by and Fritz Löhner-Beda. The performance duration is about 100 minutes. This was one of Lehár's later works, and h ...

'' composed by

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; hu, Lehár Ferenc ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is ''The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life ...

. Lehár himself appeared in the film in a small role. It was shot at the

Emelka Studios Bavaria Studios are film production studios located in Munich, the capital of the region of Bavaria in Germany, and a subsidiary of Bavaria Film. History The studios were constructed in the suburb of Geiselgasteig in 1919 shortly after the Fir ...

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

with sets designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

Hans Jacoby. The operetta was again adapted for a 1952 film ''

'' starring

Jan Kiepura Jan Wiktor Kiepura (May 16, 1902 – August 15, 1966) was a Polish singer (tenor) and actor. Life and career Jan Kiepura was born in Sosnowiec, Poland, the son of Miriam (née Neuman), a former professional singer, and Franciszek Kiepura, a b ...

Plot

It is no coincidence that the master of the house chose the Lehár operetta "The Land of Smiles" for a performance in honor of his daughter's forthcoming marriage to an "exotic prince", a Japanese diplomat. It's meant to be a metaphor of what might await them. The well-known plot of the Lehár operetta about a tragic marriage between a Chinese prince named Sou Chong and a young Austrian shows parallels to the upcoming, real connection of the lord's daughter, who breaks up with her local admirer Gustl and her future husband from the Far East has turned towards. Both storylines are soon interwoven, and the operetta reflects reality. Prince Sou Chong brought a wife with him from his trip to Europe. He hides the young woman in a pavilion in the park, fearing that his traditional family will be hostile to his wife. He only lets his sister Mi in on his secret, who soon becomes friends with the stranger. When Sou-Chong's uncle Chang suggests that his nephew choose four wives from the country's most distinguished families, the young prince initially refuses, but then has to admit that he is already married. However, his uncle continues to press him and so Sou-Chong ultimately follows the old laws of his country. When his wife Liesl found out about this, she was very unhappy. Then, however, her cousin and admirer from her homeland surprisingly turns up and gives her comfort. They then agree to escape together. However, the plan fails. However, Sou-Chong has now realized that his wife will never be happy under the given circumstances and releases her. He hides his sadness. Liesa recognizes herself as a Central European in the sad woman from the operetta, and she begins to question her upcoming connection: the customs and customs as well as the habits to which the Austrian in the song in the East Asian foreign country has to submit make the heroine unhappy. The couple fails because of the incompatibility of cultural differences. And so, in the operetta, Gustl and the prince's wife flee Chinese pomp to return home to Europe. Liesa also thinks better and decides to accept the proposal of loyal Gustl instead of becoming unhappy abroad despite all the wealth.

Cast

as Ein exotischer Fürst / Prinz Sou Chong in der Operette * Mary Losseff as Liesa *

as Der Gesandte - ihr Vater *

Bruno Kastner Richard Otto Bruno Kastner (January 1890Different sources cite 1 January, 3 January, 20 January, and 30 January as Kastner's date of birth. – 30 June 1932) was a German stage and film actor, screenwriter, and film producer whose career was most ...

as Gustl *

Karl Platen Karl Platen (6 March 1877 – 4 July 1952) was a German actor and cinematographer known for '' Girl in the Moon'' (1929) and '' M'' (1931). Biography Karl Platen was born as Carl Platen on March 6, 1877 in Halle an der Saale, Germany. He died ...

as Eine alte Exzellenz / ein alter Chinese in der Operette *

Margit Suchy Margit is a feminine given name, a version of Margaret. People bearing the name include: * Margit of Hungary (1175–1223), Empress consort of Isaac II Angelos, Byzantine Emperor * Saint Margit of Hungary (1242–1271), Hungarian nun and prince ...

as Liesa in der Operette *

Hella Kürty Hella Kürty (1900–1954) was a German actress and singer. An operetta performer, she originated the role of Mi in Franz Lehar's 1929 work ''The Land of Smiles'' alongside Richard Tauber. The following year she appeared in a film version of th ...

as Mi in der Operette *

Willy Stettner Willy Stettner (1895–1961) was a German singer and stage and film actor.Wottrich p.166 Selected filmography * ''The Land of Smiles'' (1930) * ''How Do I Become Rich and Happy?'' (1930) * ''The Night Without Pause'' (1931) * '' Victoria and Her ...

as Gustl in der Operette *

Max Schreck Friedrich Gustav Maximilian Schreck Eickhoff, Stefan. 2007 (6 September 1879 – 20 February 1936), Walk, Ines. 2006. known professionally as Max Schreck, was a German actor, best known for his lead role as the vampire Count Orlok in the film ...

as Der Hundertjährige in der Operette *

Georg John Georg John (born Georg Jacobsohn; 23 July 1879 – 18 November 1941) was a German stage and film actor. Early life Georg Jacobsohn was born into a Jewish household in Schmiegel, Province of Posen, Imperial Germany. Career John began his ...

as Tschang in der Operette *

as Der Kapellmeister

References

Bibliography

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Land of Smiles 1930 films Films of the Weimar Republic 1930 musical films German musical films 1930s German-language films Operetta films Films based on operettas Films directed by Max Reichmann Films set in China Films set in the 1910s Bavaria Film films German black-and-white films Films scored by Paul Dessau Films shot at Bavaria Studios 1930s German films