Cinematography:
Christopher ChallisComposer:
Johann Strauss ml.Cast:
Anthony Quayle, Anton Walbrook, Dennis Price, Ludmila Tchérina, Michael Redgrave, Mel Ferrer, Oskar Sima, Richard Marner, Jill Ireland, Terence Cooper (more)Plots(1)
Vienna, 1955 - a city under occupation by the four Allied powers. Through the chaos Dr Falke moves gracefully - an elegant man-about-town and friend to the highest echelons of power. He is decidedly less graceful, however, when he is deposited by a friend in the lap of a giant Soviet statue, rather the worse for drink and dressed as a giant bat. Falke swears revenge. (Network)
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The team behind The Red Shoes (1948) and The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) updated "The Bat" for the needs of the mid-1950s. Strauss's music is immortal, and the foundations of the libretto by Meilhac and Halévy are probably also immortal, because otherwise it would have been impossible to appeal through them for the Allies to leave occupied Austria. Anton Walbrook (Wohlbrück) is at his best as Dr. Falke, who kindly urges the Allies to leave for once and return as friends. Ludmilla Tchérina as Rosalinda is fascinating, only Anneliese Rothenberger is truly weak this time (she’s too mature and settled). If there is one work that is synonymous with modern Austria, it is "The Bat".
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Photo © Associated British-Pathé
