Vienna, City of My Dreams Review: A Royal Mess in 1920s Austria

If you like movies where people in huge hats get offended by things that don't matter, you'll probably have a good time with Vienna, City of My Dreams. It is worth watching if you’re a fan of those old silent-era romps where the drama is 100% caused by people not just talking to each other. People who want a serious political thriller will absolutely hate this. 👑

It’s basically a soap opera with better architecture. Prince Ferdinand, played by Luigi Serventi, is one of those guys who looks like he spends four hours a day brushing his mustache. He’s supposed to be 'flirtatious,' but he mostly just looks like he’s constantly looking for a mirror.

The Queen (Liane Haid) is way too cool for him. She has this very specific way of standing that makes everyone else in the room look like they’re slouching. When she gets jealous, she doesn't just yell; she orders him to stay in his room like a toddler. I loved that part. 🚪

Then Ferdinand does the most petty thing ever. He gives back the key to the door that connects their rooms. It’s so dramatic for no reason. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this is a heartbreaking moment, but it’s just funny.

The middle of the movie is a bit of a blur. They go to Vienna on a train. There are some officers on the train who seem to exist only to dance with the Queen. The train scenes have this oddly empty feeling, like the producers forgot to hire more than five extras for the station.

One reaction shot of an officer looking at the Queen lingers so long it becomes funny. He just stares. And stares. Is he okay? Nobody knows. 🚂

I noticed the sets in the palace are weirdly dark. It feels like they were trying to save money on the lighting bill that week. But then they get to Vienna and everything is bright and chaotic.

The Arts Ball is the big climax. Everyone is wearing masks, which is the oldest trick in the book. 🎭

In these movies, a tiny lace mask is apparently enough to make your own husband forget what your face looks like. It’s a bit silly, but the costumes are great. One woman in the background is wearing a hat that looks like a literal birdcage. I spent ten minutes just looking at her instead of the main actors.

The movie gets noticeably better once it stops taking the 'royal duty' stuff seriously. When they start running around the ball, it actually feels like a movie and not a stage play. It reminds me a little of the energy in Der müde Theodor, though that one is a bit more of a straight comedy.

Ida Wüst is in this, and she’s always a treat. She has this side-eye that could probably cut glass. I wish she had more to do than just look disappointed at the Prince. Actually, everyone looks a little disappointed at the Prince.

There’s a weird tangent where the Queen’s aide-de-camp keeps looking like he’s about to say something important, but then he just doesn’t. The silence starts to feel awkward rather than emotional in those scenes.

I kept thinking about how heavy their clothes must be. Especially the Queen's gowns. She moves like she’s carrying a small car on her back.

The whole 'Nlilrania' kingdom name is hilarious too. It sounds like something you’d name a brand of allergy medicine. 🤧

If you’ve seen Die schwarze Pantherin, you know this era loved its glamorous leads and slightly thin plots. This one isn't as intense, but it has more dancing.

The reconciliation at the end is very fast. Like, one minute they are furious, and the next they are fine because they danced. I guess that’s just how things worked in 1928.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a nice, slightly messy look at how people used to imagine 'royal problems.'

I did like the shots of old Vienna, even if some of them were clearly just painted backdrops. There is a charm to that kind of fakery. It feels more human than the CGI we get now.

If you’re bored and want to see some great 1920s fashion and a Prince who is a total brat, give it a watch. It’s definitely more interesting than Dumb Luck.

Just don't expect it to change your life. It’s just a movie about a key and a party. And that’s fine.