MovieChat Forums > The Student Prince (1954) Discussion > Am I the only one who enjoyed this music...

Am I the only one who enjoyed this musical??

posted 18 years ago by classic_movies_fan
14 replies | jump to latest

I can't believe there was no message board about this movie! Did anyone enjoyed this musical movie as much as I did ? I just recently purchased a copy of this movie on eBay and I have watched it over 5 times already! I am a huge fan of Ann Blyth and thought she was excellent in the role Kathie the barmaid and prince Carl's love interest. Mario Lanza's voice was superb! But I have to admit Edmund Purdom did a great job lip synching Mario Lanza's voice. It's a very beautiful but sad love story and I did cry in the end when Prince Carl came back to Heildelburg and said goodbye to his only love, Kathie. Please share your thoughts , what was your favorite part of the movie ??

[–] stelco 18 years ago

No you are not the only one who has enjoyed this movie, and I agree with all your sentiments. I watch this movie on an average of once a day since I first purchased the VHS Video. I still believe that it is the best musical I have ever watched, and I watch many. It is not only Lanza's voice, but the way in which Edmund Purdom portrayed the role of Karl. As you say he did a marvelous job of lip synching, so much so that I never see Lanza's face when I hear the balads from The Student Prince, but Edmund Purdoms. I have never stopped to marval at how much enjoyment Edmund seemed to get out of The Drinking song and the one sung around the piano, What song shall we sing. The love balads are portrayed with such depth of feeling, it is hard to believe that he was not singing every word himself. Ann Blyth with her beautiful voice, was a perfect choice as Kathie, and the pain and heartache in her eyes and face at the end of the movie leaves one with tears in our eyes for her. The bitter sweet parting between Kathie & Karl at the end is absolutely heart rending. I just WISH that I could purchase the movie on DVD as I play my version so much I am afraid it will get distroyed and I will not be able to replace it again.
Watch on, it is a brilliant movie.
Ann / South Africa
Since writing the above in March, I have been able to secure a D V D of "The Student Prince" thanks to "The Castaways Pictures" who published it on D V D and Dvdlegacy who made it available to us here at the southern tip of Africa.

[–] liberalcajun 18 years ago

The Student Prince was one of the finest films of 1954. Mario Lanza's voice is fantastic in the film. The part about cooking all those pancakes was funny. The songs were just great. There is one that I still hum now and then....it's 'Summertime in Heidleberg'....The words are so beautiful...I think Sigmund Romberg wrote the music for this and the "Desert Song" another great musical....... John in Louisiana

[–] fotomatt-2 16 years ago

Romberg also wrote the music for MAYTIME, of which MGM's film version (with Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy) was one of the big musical hits of the 1930s. However, Romberg did not write the music for "Summertime in Heidelberg". That was written by the team of Brodsky and Webster, who also supplied "Beloved" and "I'll Walk With God", both of which became big hits for Mario Lanza. Also, the lyrics of some of the Romberg songs were inexplicanly changed, such as "Serenade" and the popular "Drinking Song". The original lyrics were restored when Lanza re-recorded the score in 1959.

Incidentally, Ann Blythe's beautiful voice was not heard on the original soundtrack LP. She had an exclusive contract with Columbia while Lanza appeared only on RCA. For "Summertime in Heidelberg" and "Deep In My Heart, Dear" soprano Elizabeth Doubleday was the voice of Cathy.

[–] kewlcrueldude 17 years ago

"Mario Lanza sings the hit songs from the Student Price and other great musical comedies" was the very first long-play record I ever bought as a boy--having saved my dime allowances for weeks and weeks--from RCA Victor, whose motto was "his master's voice." Of course, I assumed "his master" was Mario Lanza. I couldn't get enough of that recording. (The "A" side features 8 songs from "The Student Prince" while the "B" side features half a dozen songs from other sources, including "If I Loved You" from "Carousel" and "I'll Be Seeing You," which is still one of my favorite songs. I still have that record, and I still play it.) When my mother took me to see the film version of "The Student Prince", I knew it was Mario Lanza singing but why was Edmond Purdom on the screen? This was so confusing to me as a child. It is still confusing to me as a senior citizen. And that privincial audience at the Tosa theatre in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin? They actually groaned, as the movie progressed, when yet another song began. I was bewildered. I asked my mother, "Why are they groaning?" She had no answer. I have no answer. It was a magical movie. I haven't seen it again, but hope to some day. Without the groaning. Hey, Tosans, explain yourselves. Why were you groaning? Are you retarded or what? By the way, I left Wauwatosa as soon as I found out where I was, and I have never looked back.

[–] cielo_lisazo 17 years ago

I just watched this at TCM earlier. I didn't expect much from this movie, but boy, I was blown away. I thought that Edmund Purdom really sang the vocals because of the intensity of his portrayal. Ann Blyth's Kathy was also superb. I loved the songs, especially 'Serenade'.

My favorite part of the movie was when Karl was telling Kathy that he'll be back in Heidelberg after visiting his grandfather. It was so sad because they almost had their escape earlier...

[–] Jonesh54 16 years ago

Just one more "Ja!" vote for "The Student Prince". While done somewhat on the cheap; nevertheless, the Nekker riverwalk set does look like the real place (been to the real place). And you are so right 'Cielo' about Ann Blyth. Like
Charlotte Greenwood in "Oklahoma!", Jean Simmons in "Guys and Dolls", and many years later Diana Rigg in "A Little Night Music", Ann Blyth in "The Student Prince" was able to take a 'comic book' stock character and make her a REAL flesh and blood figure. 'Kathy' is totally realistic within the confines of a
somewhat trite operetta; when she cries, we cry. To watch this film and at a 360 degree turn- "Mildred Pierce", is to realize that Blyth is an extremely
underated actress. So have a 'Twinky' and take a bow Ann; you're much loved!

[–] waltercullen 15 years ago

I always enjoyed this musical I only wish it would cone out on Restored High Quality DVD with 5.1 digital sound.I think the songs are beautiful.
The story is romantic. I loved Ann Blyth's singing and Edmund Purdom's dubbing of the voice of Mario Lanza was flawless.Here's hoping the movie comes out soon

[–] ethhuang 15 years ago

Favourite part was the drinking song - a great lyric sung by Mario Lanza, flawlessly lip-synched.It was played so dramatically and dynamically. Never tire of watching the DVD of this classic operetta.

[–] edjavega 13 years ago

This is actually one of my all-time favorite movie musicals. But then, I really love Mario Lanza's voice.

But really, the songs and the story were compelling. Or at least, the way it was presented on screen. It was heartbreaking to see the end when the Prince had to say goodbye to Kathy. It made me think of how people with titles throughout European history really couldn't be as happy as they could be. It seemed all their marriages were arranged.

[–] OlLineRebel 12 years ago

No, you're not.

My mother loved it - of course, she saw it when it came out.

But I love it much later.

I think Purdom is a bit wooden, but he's OK and considering the rest of it is above-par it's still an excellent movie. I'd like to have it, too - I've never had a copy myself.

[–] romarub 12 years ago

Maybe Purdom's "wooden" quality reflects the royal character's stiffness.

I've always loved the songs in this film, the story is interesting and coherent, and the actors (and singers) do a great job. What more could one ask for in such escapist entertainment from the '50's? I've enjoyd this film for 60 years - so it must be good!

[–] liscarkat-2 11 years ago

You are not the only one. I love this movie and can't think of a single flaw. And I'm a cynical bastard. I was prepared not to like Purdom, but I was surprised and impressed with what an excellent job he did, especially since he had the extra burden of having to act to Lanza's singing. A perfect movie, as far as I'm concerned, and I don't hand out that accolade lightly. Ann Blyth was enchanting, and fully justifies the crush I had on her when I was fourteen and saw Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid.

[–] ChristianeK 9 years ago

Charming, clean operetta with glorious production values (that color!). Small masterpiece, and although I prefer Ann as dark-haired, she was pretty in this movie, too. Yes, lip synching was perfect.

“Look, you don’t really think that I could be in love with a rotten little tramp like you, do you?”

[–] tles7-676-109633 7 years ago

Good musical because of Lanza's voice. He would have been totally wrong for the part...the regalness which he so lacked..which was the complaint of the director when Lanza rehearsed. If only they would remaster the movie. The color would be even better.