Waltzes from Vienna

Waltzes from Vienna, a 1934 Alfred Hitchcock film, deals with a part of the life of Johann Strauss the Younger, who abandons music to work at a confectionery operated by the father of his sweetheart. Hitchcock directed this film when he was self-confessedly "at his lowest ebb."http://www.britmovie.co.uk/directors/a_hitchcock/filmography/016.html

Schani Strauss or Johann Strauss the Younger (Esmond Knight), is in love with Rasi (Jessie Matthews), the daughter of cafe owner Ebezedar (Robert Hale). Schani meets the Countess von Stahl (Fay Compton) and complains of how his father forces him to play second fiddle in the orchestra. The Countess suggests that Strauss compose the music for some of her verses. Rasi, meanwhile, demands that Schani demonstrate his love for her by taking over her father's bakery.

• Esmond Knight as Johann Strauss the Younger

• Jessie Matthews as Rasi

• Edmund Gwenn as Johan Strauss the Elder

• Fay Compton as Countess Helga von Stahl

• Frank Vosper as Prince Gustav

• Robert Hale as Ebezeder

• Marcus Barron as Drexter

• Charles Heslop as Valet

• Betty Huntley-Wright as Lady's Maid

• Hindle Edgar as Leopold

• Sybil Grove as Mme Fouchett

• Billy Shine Jr. as Carl

• Bertram Dench as Engine Driver

• B. M. Lewis as Domeyer

• Cyril Smith as Secretary

"His last two films were poorly received and he wasn't getting any constructive criticism. He took on Waltzes just to have something to do. It was a cheap musical without music; of course Strauss waltzes are included, as the budget couldn't afford anything else."—The Complete Films of Alfred Hitchcock, R. A. Harris, M. S. Lasky, Extract published on BritMoviehttp://www.britmovie.co.uk/directors/a_hitchcock/filmography/016.html

"...it doesn't seem to have a Hitchcock feel to it or any of the elements you might otherwise expect from the master of suspense. I don't think his heart was really in it."—Andrew Nixon, Alfred Hitchcock Movie Reviewshttp://www.andrewnixon.com/movies/wfv.htm