Die Töchter ihrer Exzellenz: A bit dusty, but charming

Is it worth the time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white comedies where people speak in rapid-fire bursts and everyone is dressed like they’re going to a wedding, sure. But if you get annoyed by people making life harder for themselves just for the sake of a plot, you might want to skip it.

Honestly, watching Die Töchter ihrer Exzellenz felt like finding a postcard from a time that didn't really exist. It’s light. Almost too light.

The Setup

The whole premise hinges on this sisterly intervention plan that would never work in real life. You know the type. Instead of just talking, she goes full undercover agent just to get close to the suitor. It’s all very dramatic for what is essentially a rom-com.

Willy Fritsch is doing his usual thing, and honestly, you can’t blame him. He carries the screen with that easy, slightly bored smile he always seems to have. Sometimes I wonder if he ever actually put effort into acting or if he just showed up to be handsome.

Some odd notes

• The pacing in the middle drags a bit. There’s a scene in a parlor that goes on forever.
• The way they frame the doorways makes every entrance look like a stage play.
• Hans Moser is in it, and he manages to steal every single frame he’s in without even trying.

The humor is very much a product of its time. It relies on people being in rooms they shouldn't be in. Classic, I guess. It reminds me a little bit of the energy in Ridin' Gents, though obviously in a completely different setting.

There’s this one moment where a hat gets knocked over, and the whole theater I was imagining felt like it went silent. It’s just so stiff. It makes me miss the weird, raw energy of something like Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit - Ein Film über moderne Körperkultur, which at least had the guts to be completely bizarre.

This isn't high art. It’s just people running around in suits and dresses trying to fix messes they started five minutes ago. It’s cute. It’s harmless. And I’m pretty sure I’ll forget about it by next Tuesday. Which is fine, really.