(81 mins.) Released 1934-03-01
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Edmund Gwenn, Jessie Matthews, Fay Compton, Esmond Knight
biography, music, romance
originally posted 26 Oct 2017 15:53
Yes, Hitchcock directed a musical. It was released in 1935 in the US, which is why it looks out of sequence here.
Not very illuminating (perhaps even false?) as a biopic; not very pleasurable as a musical. Focuses on J.Strauss, Jr's breakthrough with the Blue Danube waltz (although it's satisfying when we finally hear it through), threatening his father's top status, and jumping ahead of his brother(s) for whom the father has more respect. Jesse Matthews plays his muse, Fay Compton her titled rival. Both sing well. Matthews, of course, has no opportunity to dance.
After the obviously fake visuals in the opening scene, I didn't watch the rest very carefully. I invite myself to look more at subsequent scenes - if I ever watch this again.
Gaumont British Pictures, dir. Hitchcock; 5+
