Sweeping Melodies

(Rauschende Melodien)

GDR, 1955, 84 min, b&w
In German; no subtitles
Credits:
Director
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Dramaturg
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Set Design
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Music (Score)
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Synopsis

During Prince Orlofsky’s ball, at which the "honorable" gentleman of Viennese high society are wont to amuse themselves with pretty young ballet dancers, Notar Falke gets revenge on Dr. Eisenstein, who once embarrassed him after a heavy drinking bout. Falke has no mercy, not even for Rosalinde, Eisenstein’s wife.

 

During the dazzling festivites, Eisenstein ends up making promiscuous advances to his own wife, who is disguised as a Hungarian countess. In the morning, he hurries to jail in order to serve a short prison sentence. His indignation peaks when he finds out that there is already a Dr. Eisenstein in jail—one who was found in his wife’s arms the night before. When Rosalinde comes, the real Dr. Eisenstein rightfully accuses her of infidelity, but when she tells him of his advances towards the “countess,” he is trapped. In the end, all are reconciled.

 

This film version of Johann Strauss’s Fledermaus keeps the essence of the operetta.  

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