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7.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Masquerade in Vienna remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for old-school European comedies where people run around in fancy coats panicking over reputations, you’ll enjoy this. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s very much a product of its time. If you’re looking for a gritty drama like I Have Killed, you’re going to be disappointed. This is for the people who want to watch 1905 Vienna look like a postcard, not a history book.
The plot kicks off because of a drawing. A risqué one, mind you. Paula Wessely does a great job playing the woman who just wanted to be an art subject and ended up in a web of lies. You can tell she’s trying to keep a straight face through the whole mess.
The sets are gorgeous. They have that specific, slightly dusty charm that makes you wish you were there, until you remember there was no air conditioning. Hans Moser is in this, which is always a treat. He has this way of blinking like he’s perpetually surprised by his own lines. It’s funny, even if the humor is a bit aged.
I found myself thinking about The Spark Divine while watching this, mostly because of how differently these eras handle scandal. Back then, a drawing could ruin your life. Now? It’s just a Tuesday on social media.
There’s a scene where the fake name she uses turns out to be real. The look on her face is priceless. It lingers a bit too long, honestly. Like, we get it, you’re panicked. But the director wanted to make sure we didn't miss the sheer weight of the social faux pas.
Is it perfect? No. The middle part drags a bit, almost like the characters are just waiting for the next costume change. And some of the side characters are purely there to fill space in the frame. But who cares? It’s a breezy watch.
I wouldn't compare this to A Dangerous Woman, as that film has a completely different pulse. This is more about the joy of the masquerade itself. Even if the masquerade is just a silly lie told in a parlor.
