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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Le congrès s'amuse remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you have a soft spot for 1930s fluff, this is a total gem. If you want a gritty war drama about Napoleon, you are going to be very, very disappointed. 🤡
It is mostly for people who like to see how movies used to look when they were trying to be super fancy with big sets. People who hate musicals where characters sing while riding horses will probably want to throw their remote at the wall.
I watched this on a Tuesday night when I didn't want to think about anything heavy. It worked perfectly for that. It's like eating a giant piece of cake for dinner.
The whole thing starts with the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Everyone is there to talk about politics, but the movie doesn't care about that at all.
Instead, we get Christel, played by Lilian Harvey. She is a flower girl who throws a bouquet into the Tsar's carriage. 🌸
The guards think it is a bomb or something, which is a bit funny. But the Tsar, played by Henri Garat, just thinks she's cute. Who wouldn't?
Lilian Harvey has this energy that feels like she's about to float away. She doesn't really walk; she sort of bounces. It is very 1931.
The Tsar is actually played by the same guy who plays his double. That is a classic trope, right? The double gets to do all the boring meetings while the real Tsar goes out to have fun.
It reminds me a little bit of the vibe in Princesse, à vos ordres!. Just that lightness where nobody is ever in real danger of anything except a broken heart.
The main song, "Just Once for All Time," is catchy. Like, stuck in your head for three days catchy. I caught myself humming it while making toast this morning.
There is this one scene where Christel is riding in a carriage and she's singing to everyone she passes. The whole town joins in. It is completely unrealistic but it feels so happy.
The way the camera follows her through the streets is actually pretty impressive for a movie this old. You can tell they spent a lot of money on the sets. 🏰
Sometimes the dancing goes on a bit too long. Like, okay, we get it, Vienna is the city of dreams. Let's move the plot along maybe?
But then again, there isn't much plot to move. It’s just a series of excuses for people to look glamorous and waltz around. The costumes are incredible, though. So many ruffles.
There is this one guy, Metternich, who is supposed to be the villain. He’s always spying on everyone with hidden doors and stuff. He feels like he belongs in a different, much meaner movie. 🕵️♂️
The way he gets frustrated when the Tsar keeps disappearing is the best part of his performance. His face gets all pinched and annoyed.
Also, there is a scene with a very large dog that just seems to be there for no reason. It doesn't do anything. It just sits there while people talk.
I love details like that. Like the director just said, "Hey, bring in that dog, he looks nice." 🐕
The sound quality is a bit fuzzy in parts, which is expected. You have to lean in to hear some of the jokes. But the physical comedy is easy enough to follow.
If you liked the gentleness of L'abbé Constantin, you'll probably find this charming too. It has that same sort of innocent spirit.
The movie has to end because history happens. Napoleon escapes from Elba and the party has to stop. 🛑
It’s a bit sad when the music fades out. You realize that the whole movie was just a little bubble of time that couldn't last.
The way the characters say goodbye feels a bit rushed. One minute they are dancing, the next minute they are packing their bags. It’s a bit jarring.
But maybe that's how life is? One minute you're eating cake, the next you're doing your taxes. Or fighting a war, in their case.
I wish we saw more of what happened to Christel at the very end. She just kind of stands there. It felt a little unfinished, but maybe that was the point.
Anyway, it's a good time. Don't overthink it. Just watch it for the dresses and the singing. 💃
It's definitely better than some of the other stuff from that era, like Seine Hoheit, der Eintänzer, which feels much more stiff.
This one actually has some soul in it. Or at least a lot of champagne.
IMDb —
1926
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