Ball im Savoy (1935): A Sweet, Slightly Silly Musical Treat

"Ball im Savoy" is one of those old films you stumble upon and wonder if it still holds up. For folks who love classic musicals, especially from the pre-war era, this 1935 gem is absolutely worth a peek. If you're into snappy dialogue, a little bit of silly mistaken identity, and songs that might just stick in your head, then yeah, give it a shot. But if slow pacing and black-and-white images make you yawn, you might want to skip this one. 🤷‍♀️

So, the setup is pretty simple. Anita, played by the very lively Gitta Alpar, is this big-deal singer staying at the swanky Savoy. Her fur cape takes an unplanned dive off her balcony, landing right on Baron Wollheim, played by László Keleti.

She, naturally, assumes he's a waiter. And he, being quite taken with her, just goes with it. You gotta appreciate his commitment to the bit. It's the kind of charmingly absurd premise only an old musical could really pull off.

László Keleti as the Baron truly sells that "I'm totally a waiter, honest" vibe. He’s got this *grin*, you know? Like he's just enjoying the unexpected chaos of it all. It’s subtle but effective.

The musical numbers, they pop up often. Some are *really* bright and catchy, the kind that might get stuck in your head for an afternoon. Others, well, they feel a bit like padding, just there to fill the time between plot points. But that was a thing with musicals back then, wasn’t it?

There's a scene where Anita is singing on the balcony, and her voice just fills the whole space. Gitta Alpar has some serious pipes. It makes you almost forget the slightly flimsy plot mechanics for a bit. She carries a lot of the film's energy.

Felix Bressart, he's the hotel manager, I think. He's just a delight. His frantic energy is infectious, always bustling about, looking worried. A real scene-stealer, even in smaller bits. His reactions are gold.

The Savoy itself, the hotel, it's all glitz and a sort of art deco charm.