caroline-macafee

This is a black and white film of the light operetta, all in German. A much less lavish production than the 1962 version, but the story is better told, and the snowy setting is very pleasant. The singing is obviously dubbed, but is lovely. The violin playing and dancing, though, aren't nearly as good as in the 1962 version, and the dancing, with knickers showing all over the place, is kind of sleazy. The Hungarian costumes don't have the benefit of colour, and they're not all that exciting, but Christal's everyday trachten and hair are much better than in the 1962.

It's a light operetta with a folksy plot. You get what it says on the tin. Lovely singing, stirring violin playing, beautiful dancing, wonderful costumes, wonderful horses, not very funny comic characters - all hung on a simple plot of misunderstandings, coincidental meetings, and lèse-majesté.