Gräfin Mariza (1958) Poster

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7/10
CHARMING AND SUCCESSFUL OPERETTA ADAPTATION
J. Steed27 June 1999
Rudolf Schock's singing voice is far better (though not very subtle, a matter of taste) than his acting capabilities, but he is still doing fine in this charming and successful adaptation of Kalman's operetta. Schündler's direction is not great, but more than adequate for the material and he gets a big help of a wonderful cast, including the fabulous Kessler Twins who - alas - have too few scenes. Christina Görner as Mariza has the right spirit and a fine singing voice and is gorgeous; but it is Hans Moser who in his scenes almost steals the film from the others as a sometimes side splitting funny butler: "I ahm zee boutler!".

With the nice sets, scenery and cinematography, good pacing and the delightful (gypsy like) music and choreography the film provides the viewer a real good time. The voyeur in me was waiting for the moment the attractive breasts of Renate Ewert were to finally pop out of her deep decollete, but no such luck (clever director). Enjoy this one with a bottle of Tokay wine at hand.
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9/10
A great adaptation of one of Kalman's best operettas
TheLittleSongbird23 January 2013
I cannot help be enchanted every time I see or hear Grafin Mariza(Countess Mariza) as an operetta. And this is a great film adaptation if not quite as good as the 1973/4 film with Rene Kollo. I agree that the direction wasn't always as good as it could've been, with some languid and somewhat awkward moments, though there are many more that suits the operetta style quite well. But with everything else so wonderful, this didn't seem like a massively huge problem. The costume and set design look beautiful here, as does the photography on the most part. The music is among Kalman's best, especially Tassilo's lied Wenn Es Abend Wird, and the orchestra do it justice with lively and elegantly textured playing. The chorus are animated and well-rehearsed as well. The interplay and drama between the characters are charmingly played and doesn't dull the story in any way, and the choreography is choreographed and danced with a lot of infectious spirit. Christine Gorner is a beguiling and capricious in the title role with a well-produced voice, and while Rudolf Schock I agree is not the best of actors he is appealing as Tassilo(here called Michael) and sings Wenn Es Abend Wird with sensitive beauty. Gunther Phillip and Renate Ewert are well matched for each other, but the scene stealer is the uproariously funny turn of Hans Moser. The Kesslers are equally delightful, but you do wish there was more of them. Overall, I found it great, true the story is not exactly the same as that of the operetta but the spirit is there, which is more important to me. Even more important is what a film does on its own merits, and there is plenty to like about this Grafin Mariza. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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10/10
Excellent musical
cynthiahost17 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was made a year after I was born. I was 1, this is ow old the film is.It's changed a little bit from the original.Count Tassilo has been changed to Michael, Played by Rudolph Schock. Like the original Austrian stage musical that premiered in 1924, Hans Moser portrays the valet but his name has been changed From Panizek to Ferdinand. Lucie English plays her lady in waiting, who also played Marika Roekks lady in dances of the king in 42 and was one of the peasants in," Why The Larks Sing,"1938 another survivor of the Nazicoust .Baron Koloman Zsupan is no longer a Land Owner,played by the Danny Kaye , minus singing, of Germany and Austria Gunther Philips. He is poor as a church mouse and hangs around a café and looks like he comes from an Austrian community theater production of ,"Guys and Dolls",.A new character that was not in the play version was added.Dragomir, played by Kurt Grosskurth , who plays an admirer who want to marry Mariza. Now Rudolph Schock is a change from the 1932 version of the movie since Herbert Marischka, I never saw this, was not young. When he did this he was 50.Mariza has a chasing admirer and old fat fart Dragonmir, who want to marry her.She has an British admirer who wants her, who only shows up on the phone while Hans then Lucie answers the phone.Mariza is fed up with this. So she calls on the phone to the news paper that she's going to get married , fake marriage, alleging to Zsupan , who isn't rich in this version. Now the focus is on Zsupan hanging around the café bumming cigarettes from people. He buys a lottery draw and wins a prize. Lisa, Michaels sister in town,is also at the café too and she buys a lottery draw and also wins. When they both pick up their prize each of them thought it might be money but instead its a pet sheep. Both fall for each other and talk in the park.Back a Marizas farm, Dragonmir continues to to persuade her to marry him with dance and song and a bunch of Hungarian Rapsody dancers. It's obviously that Rimsky Corsicoff was popular in Austria Hungary or what used to be both.Well, Michael the overseer of Mariza farm has never met her . But she see's him for the first time from the window as he's fusing at the Hungarian Dancers for not being at work.Back at the city Lisa is at the same café with her pet Sheep, then he shows up with his pet sheep and they get together. All of a sudden the managers brings them supper they didn't ask for. they quickly move to another table and the waiters move the food. Then the manager shows him the newspaper that about the management of him and Mariza being engaged.He's so surprised . his girl friend Lisa, played by dark hair pick tailed Renate Ewart, get's mad at him and them leaves him but he doesn't care cause now he thinks he's rich.So back to Mariza's place , she decides to check on Michael as a possible marriage candidate. So she disguises her self as a peasant girl to check on him. He meets her and thinks she's looking for a job. Bare footed he buys her some Hungarian dance boots.They talk and drink at the pub. He got her a room but she sneaks out. The next day they meet around the well.Then later he ask her to meet her at the café.His sister Lisa shows up for a visit. but when she Mariza sees them both at the same time , she thinks that he with another women . so she leaves and tells the hostess to give him back the red boots he bought her that she had given to the hostess. When he checks things the hostess gives him the boots and tells him what happen. He doesn't know why she turned him down.She back as her Countess self having a dinner party with her snobby friends. Dragonmir keeps bugging her. Then all of a sudden Zsupan shows up claiming his right. She announces that he is her fiancé.Dragonmir later tries to start a fight with him.Michael makes a demand to see the countess.He finally does and he realize that Mariza was the girl he in love with. He's angry and disappointed. The next day As Zsupan is horse riding back wards with a fox hunt suit and hat on.He sees Lisa walking around the estate .She still mad at him and knocks him off of his horse.but later they both make up and start to rekindle their interest.Michael leaves his palace in her estate to move into the inn.Dragonmir sees that in the window of the barn and tells Mariza about it.He quickly goes to Michael but Michael doesn't want her because she's not the women who was the peasant.So as he's in his inn room she disguises herself again . He show up out of the room and he loves her again. They have a Rymskie Corsicoff type wedding.
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