Frühlingsstimmen: A vintage waltz through Vienna

If you're looking for a dark, gritty thriller, stay far away. Frühlingsstimmen is for the crowd that wants to pretend they're sitting in a crowded cafe in 1934, nursing a coffee while the world hasn't quite gone to hell yet. If you hate stagey acting and musical numbers that stop the plot dead in its tracks, you’ll probably find this pretty unbearable.

Adele Kern is clearly the anchor here, and watching her hit those high notes is honestly the only reason to stay awake through some of the, uh, sturdier dialogue scenes. There's a moment near the middle where the pacing just hits a wall, and you can practically hear the director shouting at the extras to look more excited about nothing.

The whole production has that weird, slightly claustrophobic feel you get in a lot of mid-30s European films. It makes me think of Die Nacht der großen Liebe in how it desperately wants to be charming but occasionally trips over its own shoelaces. 🎻

The sets are gorgeous, in that painted-backdrops-and-heavy-curtains kind of way. I spent way too much time staring at the chandeliers instead of paying attention to the romantic drama, which, to be fair, is pretty standard stuff.

Notes from the couch:

• The ballet sequences go on for about three minutes too long.
• S.Z. Sakall is doing the heavy lifting with his facial expressions alone.
• The sound quality dips during the outdoor shots—it sounds like a radio playing from inside a trash can.
• The transition into the final song felt like someone just cut the film with a pair of kitchen scissors.

It isn't a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s a relic, really. Sometimes that's enough for a rainy Tuesday night when your brain needs to switch off and just look at shiny things. It’s not quite as weird or moody as The Old Dark House, but it has its own weird little heartbeat.

Don't look for deep meaning here. Just watch the dancers, ignore the plot holes, and let the music do the work. It’s fine. Actually, it’s better than fine if you’re in the mood for something completely harmless. 🌸