The Emperor Waltz (1948) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)

5.33 out of 10 stars from
303 users

The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Director(s)	Billy Wilder
Producer(s)	Charles Brackett
Top Genres	Comedy, Musical, Romance
Top Topics	True Story (based on), Turn of the Century

Featured Cast:

See Full Cast

Joan Fontaine
(as Johanna Augusta Franzi...)

Lucile Watson
(as Princess Bitotska)

The Emperor Waltz Overview:

The Emperor Waltz (1948) was a Comedy - Musical Film directed by Billy Wilder and produced by Charles Brackett.

SYNOPSIS

Crosby plays a phonograph salesman plying his wares - romantic and musical - in the Viennese court of Franz Joseph. He sees an opportunity to show his stuff to the royal household by wooing a countess (Fontaine in her accustomed regal mode); love prevails over commerce. Curiously workman-like script from normally hard-boiled types Wilder and Brackett.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1948 --- Ceremony Number 21 (source: AMPAS)

Award	Recipient	Result
Best Costume Design	Edith Head, Gile Steele	Nominated
Best Music - Scoring	Victor Young	Nominated

BlogHub Articles:

When Joan was a Countess: The Emperor Waltz

By Virginie Pronovost on Jun 4, 2016 From The Wonderful World of Cinema

As a little girl, I wanted to be a princess and be married to a policeman (a policeman, not a prince). That would have been the ideal life for me. But, of course, I grew up and made wiser decisions. Because being a princess doesn’t only involve wearing beautiful dresses and being rich, but als... Read full article

Billy Wilder Blogathon: "Rhythm on the River" and "The Emperor Waltz"

By Caftan Woman on Jun 19, 2015 From Caftan Woman

Billy Wilder June 22, 1906 - March 27, 2002 Those "Girls Gone Wilder", Kellee (Outspoken and Freckled) and Aurora (Once Upon a Screen), are hosting a birthday party/blogathon in honour of the inestimable Billy Wilder on June 22nd. I want to bring a little music to the festivities. BILLY WILDER... Read full article

Bing's Birthday Movie: The Emperor Waltz (1948)

By Caftan Woman on May 3, 2012 From Caftan Woman

We have once again come to that rolling time of the year when this corner of the internet celebrates Bing Crosby's birthday. There has long been confusion about the date. According to biographer Gary Giddins, Harry and Kate Crosby's fourth son was born on May 3rd, 1903. The proud parents had the ... Read full article

See all The Emperor Waltz articles

Quotes from

Princess Bitotska: The Lafuentes have more of everything. In fact, most of their children were born with eleven fingers.

Isabella: Who is he?
Elderly nobleman: The most vulgar, impossible, obnoxious, ill-mannered...
Princess Bitotska: In one word, he's an American!

Emperor Franz-Josef: [about Virgil] We both agreed that with him you had only one chance in a million to be happy
Johanna Augusta Franziska: Your majesty thinks that I am happy? Isn't one chance in a million better than no chance at all?
Emperor Franz-Josef: My dear, you are much to pretty for mathematics.

Facts about

The song "The Kiss In Your Eyes" was given new words and a new name and became a popular hit for several artists in the late 1940s under the title of "Suddenly".

The film takes place in the Alps but was actually filmed at Jasper National Park in Canada. Billy Wilder spent $20,000 to have pine trees sent from California and planted on location because he was not satisfied with the Canadian pine trees; he also planted 4,000 daisies that were painted blue because he felt white daisies did not photograph well.

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onSeptember 26, 1949 with Bing Crosby reprising his film role.

Classic Movie Hub

The Emperor Waltz (1948)