The Love Waltz (1930) is a messy, bubbly little dream

You should probably watch this today if you’re feeling a bit down and want to see people in 1930s formal wear act like absolute goofballs. It is basically a giant, sparkly dessert in movie form. If you’re the type of person who needs a tight plot or "gritty realism," you are going to absolutely hate this movie. There is zero grit here, only sequins and lace.

It’s one of those early musicals where everyone seems slightly surprised that the cameras are actually recording their voices. You can almost feel the actors trying not to trip over the hidden microphones. It makes the whole thing feel like a live play that someone happened to film by accident.

Lilian Harvey is the Whole Show

Lilian Harvey is just... a lot. She has this energy where she’s constantly moving, even when she’s standing still. She’s got these big, expressive eyes that make her look like a cartoon character in the best possible way. I found myself watching her hands more than her face because she’s always gesturing wildly at things. 💃

The plot is your standard "Prince in disguise" thing, which was apparently the only story people wanted to hear in 1930. John Batten plays the guy who might be a prince, and he’s fine, I guess. He has that very specific 1930s male lead hair that looks like it was sculpted out of dark chocolate. He doesn't have half the charisma Lilian does, but they look nice enough together when they’re waltzing.

There is a scene where they are dancing in this massive ballroom that looks like it was decorated by someone who really, really loves wedding cakes. The pillars are all twisty and white, and everything glows. It’s not "visually stunning" in a modern way—it’s more like looking into a very expensive snow globe that someone shook up too hard.

I noticed that the sound gets a bit fuzzy whenever people move too fast. It’s like the technology couldn’t quite keep up with the actors’ excitement. It reminded me a bit of the vibe in Honey, which came out around the same time. Both movies have that "we are just happy to be here" feeling that you don't really see in later, more polished films.

The Weird Little Details

The way the extras stand in the background is hilarious. Some of them look like they are actively bored, while others are smiling so hard their faces might break. There’s one guy in a tuxedo in the background of the party scene who just stares directly at the camera for about three seconds. It’s great. I love stuff like that.

• The hats in this movie are basically structural engineering projects.
• The orchestra seems to play at random volumes for no reason.
• There’s a dog that appears for a second and then vanishes from the plot forever.
• The dialogue has these long pauses where you can hear the film grain humming.

If you’ve seen Heut tanzt Mariett, you know the kind of vibe we’re dealing with here. It’s that UFA studio style where everything looks like a dream world where nobody has to work a real job. Everyone just spends their time worrying about who is going to marry whom and whether the champagne is cold enough.

The middle of the movie drags a little bit. There is a sequence with some of the older characters—Hans Junkermann and Gertrud de Lalsky—that goes on about five minutes too long. They’re funny, but I just wanted to get back to the dancing. The comedy feels a bit dated, like a joke your great-grandpa would tell that takes twenty minutes to get to the punchline.

I think I liked this more than The Uneasy Three just because it feels more honest about being a total fantasy. It doesn't try to be anything other than a Love Waltz. It’s right there in the title! It’s a movie about a waltz and some love, and it delivers exactly that.

One reaction shot of Georg Alexander lingers so long it actually becomes funny. He just stands there with this "did I leave the stove on?" look while the music swells. It’s these little imperfections that make me love these old films. You can see the seams. You can tell real people were standing in a room together trying to make something fun. 🎥

Is it a masterpiece? No way. Is it better than most of the stuff that tries too hard to be important? Probably. It’s just a nice time. You put it on, you see some pretty dresses, you hear some tinkly piano music, and you feel a little bit better about the world for ninety minutes.

The ending is exactly what you think it is. I won't spoil it, but if you can't guess how a movie called The Love Waltz ends, you’ve probably never seen a movie before. It’s sweet, it’s short, and it has a lot of heart for a film that’s almost a hundred years old. Just don't expect it to change your life.

Final thought: If you like Lilian Harvey, this is a must-see. If you don't... well, why are you watching 1930s German operettas anyway? 🥂