Fledermaus 1955 (1955)

Fledermaus 1955: Directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger. With Anthony Quayle, Anton Walbrook, Dennis Price, Ludmilla Tchérina. “Die Fledermaus” (The Bat) is the pseudonym adopted by Dr. Falke (Anton Walbrook). Floating on the buoyant waltzes of Strauss, this Viennese romp is sure to please. Disguises, tricks, and every kind of deception combine to reveal a would-be cheat in hot pursuit of his own wife, much to his chagrin. Silly, charming, always entertaining, always fun. This is a movie version of “Die Fledermaus” set in post-war Vienna with the main protagonists of Dr. Falke represented by the three occupying powers. This is not just a movie of a staged production, but a truly filmic version of the operetta.

“Though their 1940s output is unanimously celebrated by critics and audiences, the Powell/Pressburger collaborations of the 1950s are often forgotten or outright dismissed. I have not seen all of them, save for Gone to Earth and Oh… Rosalinda!! but I was surprised by how good both of them were. No, theyu0026#39;re not on the same transcendent heights as the likes of The Red Shoes or The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (heck, precious few movies are), but they are good in their own right and still lovely to look at.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOh… Rosalinda!! may be a bit of an acquired taste for some people. The aesthetic is very flat and artificial, stagey even, much like the more elaborate Tales of Hoffman but with apparently less of a budget. Itu0026#39;s also a bedroom farce, so if youu0026#39;re not much for that kind of comedy, you may find it hard to get into the swing of things. I myself care little for such comedies, but I rather enjoyed this one, mainly due to the strength of the performers. Anton Walbrook is great as the black market dealer who manipulates everyone, showing a great penchant for comedy he rarely got to express in his English language projects. Ludmilla Tcherina is playful and sexy as the woman everyone wants. Mel Ferrer is a bit overdone, but heu0026#39;s not bad at all.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo great classic, but Oh… Rosalinda!! is worth at least one glance from Powell-Pressburger devotees.”