A collection of films about some of Germany’s musical masters in a discounted set (though, we know, Rembrandt was not German).

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JOHANN STRAUSS, K. U. K. HOFKAPELLMEISTER (1932)

Es geht um Johann Straus, der Aussichten auf den Titel des prestigetraechtigen Titel eines k.u.k. Hofballmusikdirektors hat. Ausserdem wartet das Herz der attraktiven Lilli Dumont. Deswegen bringt er seine neue Operette Die Fledermaus zur Auffuehrung. Doch die Ernennung wird aus Eifersuchtsgruenden hintergangen und die Premiere ein Misserfolg. Nach etlichen Verstrickungen wird Die Fledermaus in Berlin ein Riesenerfolg. Letztlich erhaelt Strauss seine Ernennungsurkunde und darueber hinaus seine Lilli.

A film about Johann Strauss who becomes the court ball director to the Kaiser's court and sets his sights to win the heart of the beautiful Lilli Dumont. It is for this reason, that he allows his new operetta Die Fledermaus to be premiered. His naming to the royal post leads to jealousy and results in the failure of his premiere. After many complications, Die Fledermaus becomes a huge hit in Berlin. It is only after this, that Strauss receives confirmation of his royal appointment and the heart of his Lilli.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL ALONG WITH THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES (except for the Newsreel). LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM: 76 mins LENGTH OF NEWSREEL: 23 mins

LEISE FLEHEN MEINE LIEDER (1933) * with switchable English subtitles *

Der junge Komponist Franz Schubert muss aus Geldnot seine Gitarre versetzen, um wenigstens seine Miete auch weiterhin bezahlen zu können. Emmy, die Tochter des Pfandleihers, ist von seinem bescheidenen und freundlichen Auftreten so angetan, dass sie ihm einen höheren Betrag auszahlt, als das Instrument wert ist. In der Zwischenzeit sucht der Kapellmeister Antonio Salieri Schubert auf, von dessen Talent er gehört hat. Er bietet dem hauptberuflich als Hilfslehrer arbeitenden Schubert an, von ihm bei einer anstehenden Soirée der Gräfin Kinsky als Nachwuchstalent in die Gesellschaft eingeführt zu werden. Als der Wiener seine unvollendete Sinfonie vorträgt, fallen ihm inmitten des Spiels plötzlich mehrere mögliche Enden ein, die er dann im künstlerischen Eifer in noch nicht ausgereiften Variationen vorträgt. Als er dafür im erlauchten Publikum Gelächter – vor allem von der jungen Gräfin Esterházy – erntet, ist Schubert derart irritiert, dass er seinen Vortrag abbricht und erzürnt die Soirée verlässt.

The young composer Franz Schubert is forced to pawn his lute because of financial difficulties. Emmy, the pawnbroker’s daughter, is so moved by his modest and friendly demeanor, that she gives him more money for the instrument than she should. In the meantime, the court director Antonio Salieri – of Mozart fame – calls upon Schubert after hearing of his great talent. He encourages Schubert to perform at a soiree being given by the Countess Kinsky, who has been responsible for the launching of many careers of other successful artists. During the performance of his “Unfinished Symphony”, a number of possible endings to the piece suddenly come to him in the middle of his playing. When he begins to explore these endings right there during the performance, he is laughed at by the Countess Esterhazy. Schubert becomes furious and leaves the soiree.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL ALONG WITH THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES. LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM: 85 mins  LENGTH OF NEWSREEL: 24 mins

UNSTERBLICHE WALZER (1939)

This is the story of the "Waltz-Dynasty" Strauss, which, with the three brothers Johann, Josef and Eduard, reached its peak, The film is interspersed with numerous Strauss melodies. It mixes seriousness and sentimentality.

Die Geschichte der Walzer-Dynastie Strauß, die mit den drei Brüdern Johann, Josef und Eduard ihren Höhepunkt erlebte, aufgelockert durch zahlreiche Strauß-Melodien. Ernst und Heiterkeit werden volkstümlich-sentimental miteinander vermischt.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL PREVIEW BEFORE THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES (except for the Newsreel). APPROX. 122 MINS. COMBINED

FRIEDRICH SCHILLER - DER TRIUMPH EINES GENIES (1940)

The young Schiller, whose heart and soul is poetry and writing, is forced into a military academy (the pride and joy of the Duke of Wurttemburg). Schiller is appalled and disgusted by the everyday routine of the military -- always back and forth between breeding and drills. Conversation, critique and criticism is highly discouraged. The oppression is intolerable for the young rebel. Incensed at the brutality, he writes the drama, "The Bandit", which he would later publish anonymously. But after a frank discussion with the Duke, Schiller is dishonored and must leave the country.

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES. APPROX. 103 MINS LONG.

FRIEDEMANN BACH (1941) * with switchable English subtitles *

Friedemann Bach is a 1941 German film depicting the life of Johann Sebastian Bach's son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. The film is based on Albert Emil Brachvogel's novel. Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is shown as a gifted son trying to escape his father's shadows.

During a house concert, the Bach family gets a visit by their son Wilhelm Friedemann, who has just given up his position in Dresden because he no longer could endure the reprisals taken by his superiors. After he helps his sister Frederike to tell father Johann Sebastian about her engagement to Christoph Altnikol, the family gets a visit by a messenger from the Saxon Court. Johann Sebastian is asked to take part in a musical competition against French composer Louis Marchand. Johann Sebastian, however, does not want to let his Thomanerchor down and so, he sends Friedemann to Dresden. Friedemann wins the competition, as Louis Marchand takes flight during Friedemann's performance. Many aristocrats, among which is Comtesse Antonia Kollowrat, come to Friedemann to be taught in music; Friedemann is ordered by the court to write a ballet. Friedemann and ballet dancer Mariella Fiorini fall in love with each other, which is also due the influence of Count Graf von Brühl, who has an eye on Antonia. After the ballet is successful, Friedemann is to be appointed court composer. As Antonia criticizes the ballet, Friedemann recognizes that the court's superficiality does not go together with his artistic ambitions. Friedemann and Antonia fall in love with each other. Friedemann promises to find a new position and to get Antonia to join him; his father will surely help him.  However, Johann Sebastian dies. So, Friedemann is confronted with a series of disappointments. Being demanded again and again to play music following his father's style, he finally passes, when applying in Braunschweig, one of his father's early compositions off as one of his own. The truth is discovered, Antonia and Christoph are unable to understand Friedemann, who is frustrated and responds that he no longer wants to be compared with his father Johann Sebastian but wants to be Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Embittered, he joins a group of travelling actors who regard him to be as what he is. As Christoph comes after years to see him and tells him that Antonia had been waiting for him in Braunschweig, Friedemann wants to see her again. Antonia, however, has meanwhile married Count Heinrich von Brühl. When Friedemann's group gives a performance in Dresden, the Count arranges that Friedemann and Antonia meet. Although she is still willing to help him, Friedemann shows her his full embitterment; at the Count's behest, Friedemann has to leave Saxony. Desperately, Friedemann offers one of his father's compositions to a music trader. As one of the trader's client mocks Johann Sebastian Bach, Friedemann starts to argue with the client who hurts Friedemann with a rapier; shortly after, Friedemann dies.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL ALONG WITH THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES . LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM: 97 mins.LENGTH OF NEWSREEL: 13 mins

REMBRANDT (1942)

Anti-semitic tendencies set aside, this film is a very strong told and tightly held drama with wonderful photography by Richard Angst. The chiascuro effects of the photograpy and the very good sets amount much to the overall feeling of watching Dutch painting of the 17th century. Steinhoff's management of the actors is brilliant, and Ewald Balser may be a better Rembrant than Charles Laughton.

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES. APPROX. 99 MINS.

WEN DIE GOTTER LIEBEN (1942)

After a quarrel with his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg, Hieronymus von Colloredo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart leaves on a trip to Paris in 1777 accompanied by his mother. While on the journey, Mozart successfully begs his mother to make a stopover in Mannheim, so he can visit Aloisia Weber, in whom he fell in love not long before. For her part, Aloisia gets a job at the Royal Court by introducing a piece by Mozart. Reluctantly, Mozart continues his trip to Paris. But the success he enjoyed in Paris as a Miracle Child is long past. On top of that, his mother ends up dying there. And so, Mozart returns to Salzburg. A few years later, he moves to Vienna. After some professional setbacks --- at this time, Mozart was holding his head above water by giving music lessons --- his friends appeal to the court musician von Strack to intercede on Mozart’s behalf.

Nach seinem Zerwürfnis mit seinem Arbeitgeber, dem Salzburger Erzbischof Hieronymus von Colloredo, bricht Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart im Jahr 1777 in Begleitung seiner Mutter auf eine Reise nach Paris auf. Während der Reise bittet er seine Mutter erfolgreich um Zwischenstation in Mannheim, um Aloisia Weber zu besuchen, in die er sich kurz zuvor verliebt hatte. Indem Aloisia ein von Mozart komponiertes Lied aufführt, bekommt sie eine Anstellung am fürstlichen Hof. Widerwillig reist Mozart nach Paris weiter. Doch der Erfolg, den er hier als Wunderkind hatte feiern können, wiederholt sich nicht; zudem stirbt in Paris seine Mutter. So reist Mozart nach Salzburg zurück. Einige Jahre später siedelt er nach Wien über. Nach einigen beruflichen Rückschlägen – in dieser Zeit hält Mozart sich mit Musikstunden über Wasser – setzen sich seine Freunde beim Hofmusiker von Strack für Mozart ein.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL ALONG WITH THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES (except for the Newsreel). LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM: 112 mins. LENGTH OF NEWSREEL: 30 mins

WIENER MADELN (1945)

The musician and composer Carl Michael Ziehrer, who by day works in his father’s hat shop, gets the opportunity to conduct one of his works in the Diana-Saelen in Vienna. The young siblings Munk and Mizzi make sure there’s loud applause. The next evening, he composes the waltz “Wiener Maedeln” and dedicates the work to the ladies. By chance, Ziehrer delivers a hat to Munk’s house and meets the oldest sister Klara there for the first time. Ziehrer immediately falls in love with her, but is rejected. At a ball, Ziehrer is supposed to introduce one of his compositions, supported by Klara’s singing. Klara shortly announces thereafter that she is engaged to Count Lechenberg.

Der Musiker und Komponist Carl Michael Ziehrer, welcher tagsüber im Hutgeschäft seines Vaters arbeitet, erhält eines Abends Gelegenheit in den Diana-Sälen in Wien seine Kompositionen zu dirigieren. Die jungen Geschwister Munk, allen voran Mizzi, sorgen für einen enormen Applaus. In der folgenden Nacht komponiert er den Walzer Wiener Mädeln (Weaner Mad'ln) und widmet das Werk den Damen. Zufällig muss Ziehrer am nächsten Tag im Hause Munk einen Hut abliefern und begegnet dort erstmals der ältesten Schwester Klara. Ziehrer ist sofort verliebt, wird aber abgewiesen. Bei einem Ball soll er, unterstützt mit Klaras Gesang, eine Komposition vorführen, weigert sich aber nach „Rosen aus dem Süden“ von Johann Strauß (Sohn) zu spielen. Klara gibt daraufhin kurzerhand ihrer Verlobung mit Graf Lechenberg bekannt.

THERE IS A NEWSREEL ALONG WITH THE FILM, JUST AS GERMAN AUDIENCES MIGHT HAVE SEEN WHEN THE MOVIE WAS FIRST SHOWN (except this newsreel may not be contemporary to when the film was released).

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES (except for the Newsreel). LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM: 99 mins. LENGTH OF NEWSREEL: 12 mins

FRIEDRICH SCHILLER – EINE DICHTERJUGEND (1923) * with switchable English subtitles *

Curt Goetz behandelt in seinem an Originalschauplätzen in Stuttgart gedrehten Regiedebüt auf humoristische Weise die Jugendzeit Schillers: Der junge Militärarzt schreibt heimlich sein Drama "Die Räuber" und nimmt 1782 unerlaubt an der Uraufführung in Mannheim teil, die ein großer Erfolg wird. Schließlich flieht Schiller mit seinem Freund, dem Musiker Andreas Streicher, aus der Garnison.

Curt Goetz’ humorous version of Schiller’s youth, filmed on location in Stuttgart:  The young, military doctor secretly write his drama “The Robbers” and attends the successful premiere of the play in Mannheim in 1782 without obtaining leave.  Finally, Schiller flees with his friend, the musician Andreas Streicher, from the garrison.

DVD-R IS A SILENT FILM WORK WITH MUSICAL BACKGROUND.

GERMAN INTERTITLES AND SWITCHABLE ENGLISH SUBTITLES. LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM:  101 mins.

DREI MÄDERL UM SCHUBERT (1936)

Franz Schubert is sent by his publisher to the home of a Viennese court glazier to play the organ for the wedding of one of his three daughters.  To his sorrow, he discovers that the bride is the woman he's idolized from afar.  And so typical of Schubert's real life, he's not even able to win the love of the other two sisters  (hard to believe:  who wouldn't want to be the runner-up to the love of your life?!).  The film is pseudo-biographical  (i.e., lots of liberties taken with the truth).

Franz Schubert wird von seinem Verleger ins Haus eines Wiener Hofglasermeisters entsandt, um dort bei der Trauung einer der drei Töchter die Orgel zu spielen. Zu seinem Schmerz entdeckt er in der Braut die von ihm heimlich umschwärmte Geliebte. Auch die Liebe ihrer beiden Schwestern kann er nicht endgültig erringen. Der Film ist pseudobiografisch.

DVD-R IS IN GERMAN WITH NO SUBTITLES. LENGTH OF FEATURE FILM:  86 mins. 

More than 16 hours in total length. See each movie listing for video samples.