Trara um Liebe Review: A Silly, Messy 1931 Comedy

If you like those old-school black and white movies where people fall into marriages like they’re tripping over a rug, you’ll probably find this one decent. It’s definitely for people who enjoy 1930s European fluff. If you hate movies where a single honest conversation would end the plot in five minutes, you should probably stay away. 🤷‍♂️

Captain Rudi is played by Georg Alexander. He’s got that specific kind of 1930s energy where he seems very busy even when he’s just standing there. The guy is basically a magnet for trouble. He gets caught in a room with Marie-Charlotte, who happens to be Archduke Max’s niece.

In the world of 1931 cinema, if you’re caught in a room with a lady, you’re basically married already. It doesn't matter if nothing happened. The Archduke isn't taking any chances with his family reputation. So, Rudi gets forced into a wedding he didn't really ask for. Awkward.

The real problem is that Rudi doesn't even want the niece. He’s actually in love with Josefine, an actress. To make things even more messy, Josefine is actually the Archduke's girlfriend. It’s a total circle of people dating the wrong people. It reminds me a bit of the social mess in Nell Gwyn, just with more military uniforms.

The Archduke gets fed up with the drama and has Rudi transferred to another post. I guess he thought that would solve everything. But the girls just decide to follow him anyway. It’s like a parade of people moving across the country for no good reason. 🎺

Felix Bressart shows up in this, and he’s honestly the best part. He has this face that always looks like he just smelled something slightly off. His comic timing is so much better than everyone else's. I found myself waiting for him to come back on screen whenever he left.

There is one scene where they are all trying to be polite while clearly hating each other. It goes on for a long time. Maybe about thirty seconds too long, actually. The silence starts to feel a bit weird rather than funny.

Mártha Eggerth plays the actress, and she’s great. She has this spark that makes the other actors look like they’re made of cardboard. When she’s on screen, the movie actually feels alive. When she’s not, it feels a bit like a dusty stage play. 🎬

The sets are actually pretty nice for 1931. You can tell the director really liked the big rooms and the fancy furniture. Sometimes the camera just lingers on a vase or a chair for no reason. It’s a bit distracting, to be honest.

I noticed that the military scenes have this oddly empty feeling. Like, there are supposed to be lots of soldiers, but it looks like only five guys showed up. It makes the "Captain" title feel a bit less impressive. It’s a similar vibe to the staging in Noisy Neighbors where everything feels just a little too quiet.

The script is a bit predictable. You know exactly who is going to end up with who by the second act. But the journey there isn't too bad if you don't take it seriously. It’s light, it’s airy, and it’s mostly harmless.

I did find the ending a bit rushed. It just sort of... stops. Everyone figures out their feelings in like two minutes and then the credits roll. I guess they ran out of film or something. Or maybe they just figured the audience was tired. 😴

One reaction shot of the Archduke lingers so long it becomes funny. He just stares into the distance for what feels like an eternity. I think he forgot his line, but they kept it in anyway. It’s those little imperfect moments that make these old movies feel more real.

The music is okay, but it’s very loud. Sometimes it’s hard to hear what the actors are saying because the orchestra is going full blast. It’s a very noisy movie for something called "Trara um Liebe."

If you've seen things like The Dark Star, you know the style. It’s that transition period where they were still figuring out how to make sound movies not feel like filmed theater. It doesn't always work here, but it’s trying its best.

Is it a classic? Not really. But it’s a fun look at what people thought was hilarious ninety years ago. Sometimes that’s enough for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. It’s just a fuss about love, like the title says.