One of the most popular films of 1938, “The Great Waltz” stars Miliza Korjus, the Polish-born coloratura soprano in her only Hollywood appearance, for which she was Oscar nominated in the supporting league.
Hoping she would become a major star, MGM created a great publicity campaign for Korjus, based on the line: “Korjus rhymes with gorgeous.”
This was the first of two films bearing the same title which told the life story of Austrian “Waltz King” Johann Strauss.
Fernard Gravet stars as Strauss, while MGM’s two-time Oscar winner Luise Rainer plays his wife, Poldi Vogelhuber. Poldi suffers as her husband carries on an affair with opera singer Milza Korjus
However, hsband and wife mend their differences shortly before being introduced to the court of Emperor Franz Josef.
One of the film’s most memorable scenes is the one in which Gravet and Korjus improvise “The Tales of the Vienna Woods” while taking a buggy ride in the country.
Dmitri Tiomkin adapted to the big screen the original Strauss, while Josef Von Sternberg (uncredited) helped French director Julien Duvuvier finish the movie.
Running time: 102 minutes.
Directed By: Julien Duvivier
Written By: Samuel Hoffenstein, Walter Reisch
Cast
Luise Rainer as Poldi Vogelhuber
Fernand Gravey as Johann Strauss
Miliza Korjus as Carla Donner
Hugh Herbert as Hofbauer
Lionel Atwill as Count Hohenfried
Leonid Kinskey as Dudelma
Oscar Nominations: 3
Cinematography (black and white): Joseph Ruttenberg
Supporting Actress: Miliza Korjus
Film Editing: Tom Held
Oscar Awards: 1
Cinematography
Oscar Context:
This was the first of four Oscars for cinematographer Ruttenberg.
The Supporting Actress Oscar went to Fay Bainter for Jezebel.
The Editing Oscar went to Ralph Dawson for Robin Wood.