Der Kongreß tanzt

Der Kongress tanzt
(English: Congress Dances)
Der Kongress tanzt; (English: Congress Dances)
	Der Kongress tanzt (poster)
Directed by	Erik Charell
Written by	Norbert Falk; Robert Liebmann
Produced by	Erich Pommer for Ufa
Starring	Lilian Harvey; Willy Fritsch
Edited by	Viktor Gertler
Music by	Werner Richard Heymann
Distributed by	Universum Film AG (UFA)
Release dates	29 September 1931 (Austria); 20 October 1931 (Germany);
Running time	85 minutes
Country	Weimar Republic
Languages	German; English; French

Der Kongress tanzt (English: The Congress Dances) is a German musical comedy film produced in 1931 by Ufa, directed by Erik Charell, starring Lilian Harvey as Christel Weinzinger, the glove seller, Willy Fritsch as Tsar Alexander I of Russia and his doppelgänger, Uralsky, Otto Wallburg as Bibikoff, his Adjutant, Conrad Veidt as Prince Metternich, Carl-Heinz Schroth as his Secretary, Pepi, Lil Dagover as the Countess and Alfred Abel as the King of Saxony.

Der Kongress tanzt is a particularly well achieved move in Ufa's attempt to challenge US supremacy in the European film arena, taking advantage of the introduction of sound. As such, the studio released the movie in three different language versions (MLV): in German, in French as Le congrès s'amuse, and English as Congress Dances. Lilian Harvey played in all three versions, as she spoke all languages; Henri Garat replaced Willy Fritsch for the French and English versions.

Ufa spared no efforts: the cast reads like a who's who of German film, from the top billers of the day to heavy-weight comedians - even the supporting cast is made out of stars. The sets were lavish and top talent made up the entire technical cast.

Despite the ambition and the auspicious beginning, Ufa's challenge to US supremacy never materialized, both due to the strength of the Hollywood majors and to the constraints Germany's creative film and performers would suffer from 1933 onwards.

"This truffle of cinema unfolds its flavours like a heavenly feast for the anonymous millions it is dedicated to." Lichtbild-Bühne.

Plot

Der Kongress tanzt is set during the Congress of Vienna, that took place in 1814/1815 after the Napoleonic Wars, a meeting between the powers that was to set the frontiers of the world.

Traveling incognito among the people in the tradition of his ancestor Peter the Great, Russia's Tsar Alexander crosses paths with young Christel Weinzinger. The witty and charming Viennese glove seller advertises her business by throwing flowers with her business card into each passing carriage. Her overzealous promotion effort leads to her being charged with an assassination attempt but her punishment is waived and Christel is released.

Smitten with Christel, the Tsar finds her at her place of business. A romance develops, with Prince Metternich and his army of spies intending to use the situation to further his own agenda. And then there is Pepi, the Prince's secretary, who is also in love with Christel. When Christel tells her friends about the romance, they do not believe her, only to be all the more surprised when the Tsar arrives with a splendid carriage to whisk her away.

Their romance comes to an abrupt end when Napoléon Bonaparte escapes from the island of Elba and marches on Paris. The Tsar, as all other rulers, has to leave. Christel stays behind, miserable, but finds solace with Pepi.