User reviews

I had never heard of Joseph Schmidt before I saw this film.Now I will never forget him.An unforgettable voice with a career that was blighted by the Nazis.He even had so little ego to allow his lack of stature to be characterized by this film.Despite playing with experienced actors such as John Loser and Jack Barry he wipes the floor with them.Loser as usual is as wooden as ever and Jack Barry mugs outrageously.Loser is even expected to perform a clowns routine.The rather silly story is about Schmidt's infatuation for a woman who prefers the attentions of Loser.You wonder if someone such as Alan Ladd would have agreed to make a film highlighting his diminutive size.

Joseph Schmidt was one of the unfortunate number of great and unique artist caught up in the political whirlpool that was 1930's Europe. He was a man of short stature physically, being barely five feet tall, but possessing a voice of surpassing stature. He came to fame initially on German radio in numerous broadcast operatic performances which were barred to him on stage because of his height. This film, shot in part on location in Venice, reflected these aspects of Scmidt's own life and in that sense renders the film as loosely biographic. This extends to a sweetly portrayed love triangle in the plot. I will not go into further plot details as they are largely irrelevant to the film's great strength which is the unsurpassed passionate singing of Schmidt further enhanced by his clearly apparent dignity and grace. This was a popular success upon it's release in Germany early in the Nazi regime and even Goebbles was described as being enthusiastic. This must have been a brief enthusiasm as Schmidt , originally a cantor, was driven by events to Austria , Holland,and eventually Vichy France from whence he reached Switzerland, illegally in 1942. There he ran afoul of an unsympathetic work camp administrator who "knew not Joseph' and put him to work despite his having developed chest. There he succumbed to heart disease at age 38. He was said to be singing up to an hour before death.

All this adds a certain poignancy to this and his other surviving films. "My Song goes Round The World" fortunately escaped attempted destruction by the Nazi's. One copy was found after the war. This restoration, by the Bel canto Society is a treasure.

If a list of great voices of the recorded era were to be compiled Joseph Schmidt would certainly rank high. In this charming film he is featured to very good effect. It's setting in Venice will be quite evocative to anyone who has visited that city and Schmidt's acting as well as singing is quite impressive. Moreover, good production values and a competent supporting cast make this a film worth seeking out. It is to our good fortune that the Nazi regime failed in it's efforts to destroy all of Schmidt's films.

The film can be divided into a number of set scenes around the star's singing. I found the scene in the record shop particularly charming and shows what a fine actor Schmidt was. The segment proceeding is set in the Venice Radio Center and is an impressive example of Art Deco.

Note particularly the chairs in the radio manager's office.