Es War Eine Rauschende Ballnacht (1939)

 

The Life and Loves of Tchaikovsky or It Was a Lovely Night at the Ball

 

Directed by: Carl Froelich

Produced by: Carl Froelich

Written by: Géza von Cziffra (novel, screenplay)

Frank Thieß

Georg Wittuhn

Jean Victor

Music by: Theo Mackeben

Cinematography: Franz Weihmayr

Edited by: Gustav Lohse

Production company: UFA

Distributed by: UFA

Release date: 13 August 1939

Running time: 94 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

 

Starring:

 

Zarah Leander: Katharina Alexandrowna Murakina

Aribert Wäscher: Michael Iwanowitsch Murakin

Hans Stüwe: Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowsky

Marika Rökk: Nastassja Petrowna Jarowa, Dancer

Leo Slezak: Prof. Otto Hunsinger

Fritz Rasp: Porphyr Philippowitsch Kruglikow, Kritiker

Paul Dahlke: Iwan Casarowitsch Glykow, Music publisher

Hugo Froelich: Vater Jarow

Karl Haubenreißer: Gruda, Concert agent

Karl Hellmer: Stepan, Butler

Wolfgang von Schwindt: Onkel Jarow

Kurt Vespermann: Ferdyschtschenko

Traute Bengen: Mother waiting at Station

Eduard Bornträger: Schwager Jarow

Ernst Dumcke: Dmitri Pawlowitsch Miljukin

Max Harry Ernst: Guest at Concert

Claire Glib: A fat lady

Lotte Goebel: Sonja, Katharina’s Maid

Grete Greef-Fabri: Mutter Jarrow

Karl Hannemann: Pjotr, Murakins Butler

Eva Immermann: A young princess

Gerda Kuhlmey: Katharina’s Guest

Maria Loja: Elsa Siebeneiner

Benno Mueller: Guest at the concert

Maria Reisenhofer: An old princess

Ferdinand Robert: Guest at Masked Ball

Franz Stein: Dr. Ossorgin

Arnim Suessenguth: Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinowitsch

Leopold von Ledebur: A General

Eva Wegener: Katharina’s Guest

Plot

 

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht is a 1939 German historical drama film directed by Carl Froelich and starring Zarah Leander, Aribert Wäscher and Hans Stüwe. The film portrays the fictional relationship between the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and an aristocratic woman who, unhappily married, falls in love with him and decides to secretly support his work financially. It premiered on 13 August 1939 at the Venice Film Festival.

 

It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in Berlin. The film’s sets were designed by the art director Franz Schroedter.