Localities and student life

The film impresses with absolutely authentic decors. Ruder's Guesthouse is on a clearly identifiable spot in Heidelberg, the perspectives are spot on, and when Kathie goes on the other side of the river, the views change accordingly. The guesthouse could be a German inn at the time portreyed (and even today, as we are retro and redo old stuff).

But even more impressive is the knowledge of the student fraternities and their customs. One watches the film and memories of one's misspent (or was it??) youth come floating back. The costumes, the behaviours, all seen in real life not that long ago.
The only thing that is not like in real life is the sabre fight. But I think they would have had too hard a time to teach Mr. Purdom real mensur fencing, and what is in the film is much more spectacular.

Great film, even greater when you know the environment it plays in.