Land Without Music

When I saw the cast list I wondered how it would turn out.Particularly when I also saw George Hayes as a police inspector.Alas it wasn't Gabby Hayes.My view of the film was hampered by the fact that the copy was only 63minutes long.so I assume that a lot of music had been cut out to make way for the plot.For some strange reason back in the 1930s this type of light operetta seemed to have some popularity with the cinema going public.Tauber had a great voice but wasn't the least bit cinematic and went on to marry his leading lady.Jimmy Durante seemed rather unusual casting for this film but he doesn't manage to overwhelm everyone as he can do.

An opera singer returns to his homeland to stage a secret concert when the ruling princess bans music for the sake of the economy. Silly lightweight British musical featuring famed tenor Richard Tauber, who makes an unconvincing leading man despite playing opposite his wife. Jimmy Durante tries to wring some laughs out of the non-existent comedy moments, but never stands a chance.

There really isn't much to this movie. The plot is so silly that no one takes it seriously. Music is forbidden by the Princess because her subjects are having too much fun to work and to pay off the nation's debt. So music goes underground as Durante and the tenor try to change her mind. There's romance and lots of singing and it looked as though everyone was having a light hearted good time. It was the spirit of the people in the film that rubbed off on me, lots of smiles and laughter, people enjoying themselves that made this fluffy film fun for me too

What a surprise to come across this film on DVD! 'Forbidden Music', or 'Land Without Music', teams Jimmy Durante with Richard Tauber (now that's a strange pairing if ever there was one) in a tale about a land so obsessed with music its Princess outlaws all forms of musical expression - Tauber of course plays an opera singer who makes regular visits back to the country of his birth to appear in concert; but how will he fare under the new rules?

Diana Napier (Mrs Tauber in real life) gives a chirpy and funny performance as the Princess, while June Clyde is also memorable as Durante's daughter Sadie. Durante is a lot of fun, as are the pub regulars who lie in wait for strangers who might stop by for a drink! And Tauber is in magnificent voice. He made only a handful of films but this is a slight, but charming way to spend an hour or so.

Princess Diana Napier faces a crisis. They're ten million in debt to Austria-Hungary, and the entire population is too busy singing, playing bassoons and otherwise performing that no one is working and paying taxes. When she goes to speak to her cabinet, they are busy playing quartets. So she outlaws music. Along comes newsman Jimmy Durante, his daughter June Clyde, and tenor Richard Tauber, to offer an underground concert. Then Tauber meets the Princess incognito and boasts of their plans.

Uh oh! The movie operetta was still chugging along in England, and the music of Oscar Strauss offers some lyrical and noisy accompaniment to this nonsense. Durante was taking a break in England, and Miss Clyde spent three years there and made about fifteen movies. Director Walter Forde directs as well as one can when Durante starts mugging. Look fast and you'll spent Evelyn Ankers in her film debut.