"Frühling in Wien"... Marika Rökk (1941)

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Franz Grothe composed the music for all of Marika Rökk's movies in the 1940s with the exception of "Kora Terry" (music by Peter Kreuder). For the 1941 romantic comedy "Tanz mit dem Kaiser" (Dance with the Emperor) he wrote "Frühling in Wien" (Springtime in Vienna) and "So schön wie heut', so müsst' es bleiben" (It should stay as beautiful as it is right now). Both have become classics. Many recorded versions of both songs exist yet Rökk's recording of "Frühling in Wien" is rarely heard. So in a way, the record presented in this video is a "premiere" of some sorts. The other song "So schön wie heut'...' remained on Marika Rökk's repertoire throughout her life. She sang it numerous times on stage and in tv shows (also during her last performance on tv in 1996).

"Tanz mit dem Kaiser" was based on the comedy "Die Nacht in Siebenbürgen" by Nikolaus Asztalos. The story takes place in 18th century Austria. Empress Maria Theresia wants nothing more for her son but to get married... Josef II (Axel von Ambesser) however seems to;have little interest in marriage and when his mother wants to present another potential bride he decides to take an icognito trip to Siebenbürgen with his aide Captain von Kleber (Wolf Albach-Retty). In Siebenbürgen they meet the young widow Christine von Alwin... Von Kleber falls in love with the young woman but claims to be Josef II to make sure the identity of the real Josef II is kept secret... Christine also falls in love with von Kleber whom she still believes to be Josef II. Both men return to Vienna and Christine writes a letter to her beloved emperor. Maria Theresia reads the letter and - delighted - decided to invite Christine to the imperial court... which inevitably leads to a comedy of errors and mistaken identity...

Franz Grothe not only composed two song for Rökk but also a magnificent czárdás to which Marika Rökk dances. "Tanz mit dem Kaiser" was a very successful movie - especially in wartime France and Belgium where it ran as "La Dance avec L'empéreur". In her study "Deutsche Kulturpolitik im besetzten Paris 1940-1944 : Film und Theater" (Lit. German cultural policy in occupied Paris) Kathrin Engel cites "Tanz mit dem Kaiser" as one of the most successful German movies in occupied France (note : the French generally preferred watching movies produced in France however very good German productions or those starring big names like Zarah Leander, Rökk, Ilse Werner or Kristina Söderbaum managed to draw large audiences to cinemas). The singer Georges Guétary - who started his career during the War and became a superstar in France later on - recorded French versions of "Frühling in Wien" and "So schön wie heut' ".

Several versions exist of "Frühling in Wien" ranging from classic waltz to foxtrot. Especially beautiful is the version recorded by Austrian soprano / movie star Elfie Mayerhofer (sometimes called the Austrian Deanna Durbin).

The video features images of Vienna made during a visit some time ago. It was also in Vienna that I found this record.

About the record

Telefunken
A 10394 / 20245

Berlin,
1941

Record in average condition

This record was recorded with an Nagaoka MP10 cartridge with 3,5mm 78rpm stylus as well as 78rpm phono preamp. The restoration was done as truthfully as possible.

Видео "Frühling in Wien"... Marika Rökk (1941) канала Leotaurus1975