The Gypsy Baron

Strauss's "The Gypsy Baron" premiered in the fall of 1885 in Vienna. Feelings were initially mixed, as the title was already announced for the beginning of the year and the premiere was supposed to be in Budapest. Since 1883, an operetta based on the story "Saffi" by Hungarian classic Jókai had been expected. After 25 performances, the finale was changed from the usual waltz to the Hungarian March. This film adaptation is probably the first sound transcription. The main role is perfectly suited to Adolf Wohlbrück, who perhaps never filmed anything uninteresting, and his name can still be considered a guarantee today. Until 1936, he filmed in Germany, then immediately continued in England and forever remained faithful to the high-quality musical genres that brought him to the top. Alongside him, in supporting roles, are actors such as Rudolf Platte and Margarete Kupfer, with outstanding performances in the leading female roles by spicy Gina Falckenberg and the lovely Hansi Knoteck. Karl Hartl's The Gypsy Baron is among the classic operetta films of the 1930s, which honor their original source and at the same time gently update it with respect to the standards of that time. (14/01/2022)