Any fans of operettas will find Grafin Mariza(Countess Mariza), which I consider one of Kalman's best operettas, and this film (available on Youtube, and hopefully it'll stay like that) a treat. The film is handsomely photographed, and the settings and costumes are a sumptuous feast for the eyes. The music is glorious, Tassilo's lied Wenn Es Abend Wird being the most memorable. It is performed with lots of zest and beauty of tone by the orchestra, and paced perfectly. The stage direction is fun, charming, intelligent and full of heart. The dancing during the end credits really puts you in a party mood. Erszébet Házy is the very picture of sophisticated yet capricious beauty in the title role and sings vibrantly. She is ideally matched by a youthful looking and sounding Rene Kollo, some of my favourite Kollo performances actually were from the early 70s in operetta and later on he was a fine Tristan. Dagmar Koller's Lisa is very charming, and Kurt Huemer is ardent yet authoritative as Baron Kolomon. Benno Kusche is a lot of fun and while Ljuba Welitsch's voice has seen better days but she still makes for a compelling performer. In conclusion, an utterly charming and irresistible operetta film. 10/10 Bethany Cox
