The Congress Dances (1931)
September 29, 1931Release Date
The Congress Dances (1931)
September 29, 1931Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Lilian Harvey
Christel Weinzinger
Willy Fritsch
Zar Alexander von Russland / Uralsky
Otto Wallburg
Bibikoff, sein Adjutant
Conrad Veidt
Fürst Metternich
Carl-Heinz Schroth
Pepi, sein Sekretär
Lil Dagover
Komtesse
Alfred Abel
König von Sachsen
Adele Sandrock
Fürstin
Paul Hörbiger
Heurigensänger
Eugen Rex
Sächsischer Gesandter
Alfred Gerasch
Französischer Gesandter
Margarete Kupfer
Gräfin
Julius Falkenstein
Finanzminister
Max Gülstorff
Bürgermeister von Wien
Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
Napoleon
Sergius Sax
Russischer Diener
Media.
Details.
Release DateSeptember 29, 1931
Original NameDer Kongress tanzt
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 34m
Genres
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
Wiki.
Der Kongress tanzt (English: The Congress Dances) is a German musical comedy film produced in 1931 by Ufa, directed by Erik Charell, starring Lilian Harvey as Christel Weinzinger, the glove seller, Willy Fritsch as Tsar Alexander I of Russia and his doppelgänger, Uralsky, Otto Wallburg as Bibikoff, his Adjutant, Conrad Veidt as Prince Metternich, Carl-Heinz Schroth as his Secretary, Pepi, Lil Dagover as the Countess and Alfred Abel as the King of Saxony.
Der Kongress tanzt is a particularly well achieved move in Ufa's attempt to challenge US supremacy in the European film arena, taking advantage of the introduction of sound. As such, the studio released the movie in three different language versions (MLV): in German, in French as Le congrès s'amuse, and English as Congress Dances. Lilian Harvey played in all three versions, as she spoke all languages; Henri Garat replaced Willy Fritsch for the French and English versions.
Ufa spared no efforts: the cast reads like a who's who of German film, from the top billers of the day to heavy-weight comedians - even the supporting cast is made out of stars. The sets were lavish and top talent made up the entire technical cast.
Despite the ambition and the auspicious beginning, Ufa's challenge to US supremacy never materialized, both due to the strength of the Hollywood majors and to the constraints Germany's creative film and performers would suffer from 1933 onwards.
"This truffle of cinema unfolds its flavours like a heavenly feast for the anonymous millions it is dedicated to." Lichtbild-Bühne.