User Reviews

I had assumed that only the military and Jewish themes were the one with the direct to moderate propaganda films of the third Reich. Wrong the escapes films romances,musicals ,dramas,westerns, only one too,autobiography's, melodramas,cartoons,etcetera had their propaganda too but it was mild.I just realize this recently.The beggar student is no different.Carl Millocker operetta was so perfect in it's story that the propaganda ministry didn't need to change it. Gobels exploited it.Poland is in a dictatorship by Kommandant Von Krakau, played by Fritz Kamper. Countess Nowalska, played by Ida Wust,who played Ilsa Werners mother in request, want her daughters Laura,played by Carola Hohn,and Bronislawa,played by Marika Rokk to marry the rich royalties cause they are broke.This was Marika Rokks second film in Germany and she was not the star yet.Meanwhile the students are rebelling against Krakau dictatorship with Simon,played by Johanne Heesters, and his friend Enterich,played by Ernest Behmer,as the students leader.Earlier Ida and Marika and Carolla go to a royal ball in hoping both daughters will find husbands up there.There's a busby Berkeley choreographed style dance in this scene.Well Fritz makes a pass at Laura inciting her to slap him. He puts on an act and laughs at it but he's angry.Well the police catches the two students. Meeting Fritz,he's had a plan for revenge by duping Carola to think he's a wealthy nobleman to only find out after the marriage he's a poor student in return the charges would be dropped. Joahnne agrees cause in this way the students can infiltrate the palace and take over. the next day The countess and the two daughters received gifts which includes food By the phony noble man backed up by Krakua. Carola Hohn has good opera voice. Bronislawa Falls for Jan. The students eventually invade the palace and incite the people to overthrow the dictator But The Komandant reforms and Laura and Bronislawa discovered that their men that they love are students but are still in love with them . Marika does a late 1700 style dance. the propaganda is very noticeable since it didn't have to be changed up.A put down against the wealthy. Poor hard working students.Poland. Women changing their minds about money and marrying for love. The Komandant Freely giving himself up.This is Hitlers desire to invade Poland. Banned by Hollywood, Available at Reichs kino

This is the second musical of Jacobi starring Marika. I wonder why in both, her own husband gave her the second female lead. She was undoubtedly better looking, I couldn't find any fault in acting prowess, and her steps were divine by any standard - whether the classical, tap dancing, or (almost) vaudeville - in Gasparone. But that is director husband's prerogative. The background is early 18th century - 1704 to be precise. The Poland is under control of Augustus II, about to be deposed by Charles XII of Sweden and get Stanislaw-I in throne instead. The internal struggles were ripe, between Augustus and Stanislaw factions. And at the scene of the movie, Krakow, the military Governor Colonel Ollendorf (Fritz Kampers) put by Augustus has his eyes on the daughter of the old aristocratic but highly impoverished Countess Nowalska's elder daughter, Laura (Carola Höhn). Though it was made known that the girls in the family would only marry nobles of their class, and Polish to add, the Colonel being neither. When in the gubernatorial reception, he, under the intoxication of power and liquor tries to take liberties with Laura, she slaps her on the face with the fan. The story goes out to his discomfort, and he pledges revenge. Meanwhile the rebels, many of them poor students of the university, pledging allegiance to Stanislaw, are busy in the act of overthrow, their chief being Jan Janicky (Berthold Ebbecke), and one of his new found rebel friend Simon Rymanowics (Heesters). The two are arrested, and becomes pawn in the hand of Ollendorf - who wants Simon to pose like a Prince, and thence to seduce and marry Laura - and then he would divulge his actual after the wedding. The plan succeeds with a twist, to the advantage of Ollendorf. The second poor student, Jan, who insisted on staying with Simon, makes Countess' second daughter Bronislava (Marika), fall in love with him. With an intention of course. The Colonel's man had been put as a shadow to keep an eye on the two. Under the pretext of being alone, romancing, they could sneak out and do their part with the rebels. One could say it was an atrocious plan, manipulating two innocent girls, but these are heroes, and the fault was somewhat ameliorated, by making the amour bi-directional. Meanwhile Colonel got a confidential information, Jan was in fact a Count, and right hand man of Stanislaw. He now bribes Jan to know the whereabouts of Stanislaw, and even get him arrested. With a sufficient bribe, Jan agrees, or pretends to agree. With all pawns in place, as planned by Colonel, the wedding takes place, and he discloses the true identity of Simon. But the rest doesn't go along his plan, as Laura accepts Simon, even in his new role.

There seems to be some difference between the original Opera and the movie - in this version, Simon is shown to be really Duke Casimir, Stanislaw's Nephew, posing incognito to support his uncle. In this aspect there is some major errors (of course that might not be too obvious).

Jan (or the count) can't fail to recognise his Regent's nephew, incidentally a major war her himself. And in the end, though he was proved to be Duke, I am not sure before that whether Count knew, or just bluffed, his expression, when disclosed by Count, seemed to beat a bluff (It was bluff, but in Opera, but not in the movie). Assuming he really was duke, his lack of moral, a beggar under assumed aristocratic identity, romancing Laura could be forgiven.

Is there some historical inaccuracy - as far as Casimir is concerned ? In the web at least, there is no Duke Casimir during this period, the only one was only 4 years old (who would later go on to become King of Poland). All other, Charles XII, Augustus and Stanislaw were contemporaries, and more or less the actions matched to the history, except, though not very clearly said, Augustus wasn't exactly a foreigner, adding Poland to his Kingdom, but he was elected King of the Poland (and Only of it) - till he abdicated, and after a long time, post Charles XII's death, was again re-elected. In opera version, he wasn't a duke, but was knighted and made one by King, after his coronation. A few minot modifications would have saved from the error.

But despite that, the movie remains watchable.