As is the usual case with these type of pictures, the set decorations are absolutely opulent, but here the story line is interesting, but we've seen it so many times.The film chronicles the life of waltz king Johann Strauss, his competition with his father and his rise to fame once the latter dies suddenly.We also see the romance and eventual marriage to a diva, who was loved by a baron, in this film, nicely portrayed by Rosanna Brazzi.The singing and dancing are well staged and we see the film become more dramatic once the secret of his wife is revealed. Love conquers all is the general theme here.

This movie failed on several levels, most importantly on not knowing what its audience would enjoy. It was a big budget movie, with great stars, and a plot based on a true story of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, pride, and great music - seemingly the ingredients for a terrific film. The story, while intriguing, was not directed in a style that fit either the lavish Austrian locales or the wonderful music of Johann Strauss. It was more of a musical in the style of Broadway, with the music treated that way. Hardly any of Strauss' waltzes were played in their entirety, the main exception being one sung by opera singer Mary Costa. In the movie, when the composer's greatest waltz was being debuted at a dance, the dancers all stood still and started swaying back and forth with the music rather than waltzing - totally unbelievable for a "Great Waltz"! This same scene was then interrupted by a non-Strauss sequence showing printing presses, with a song about how popular the composition became. The last half of the Strauss music was never presented.If the movie was aimed at people who wanted to hear Broadway-style songs, it was marketed wrongly as the story of light classical music, so that audience did not go to see it. If it was aimed at people who wanted to hear Strauss waltzes, it tantalized without satisfaction.It is no wonder that this big-budget potential blockbuster closed early in theaters, and has all but vanished from public memory, never even having been put on VHS or DVD.

This 1970's film was underrated. The performances were more than adequate & the music of course, superb. The story of the life of Strauss has been fairly accurately depicted, and the movie offers some insight into the trials & tribulations Strauss faced, particularly in his love life. The relationship between Strauss & his mother has been chronicled well. The strain between the father & son has been dealt with accurately as well. The flavour of the times has also been well captured. All in all, a creditable fort, well worth a view. A pity that this has not been released on DVD. It is also currents unavailable on VHS.

This film is about the life of Johann Strauss Jr. Horst Bucholz is good in this role. He ages well over the course of the film.Mary Costa plays his eventual wife Jetty. Miss Costa was an international sensation in her day as a major opera star. Her beautiful soprano voice is heard on the soundtrack here.The direction here is unintentionally funny.The music and the singing by Miss Costa are the main attraction of this film.