In the mid-1930’s, Alfred Hitchcock picks a rather unusual
assignment: Waltzes from Vienna, an adaptation of an operatic musical
about Johann Strauss Jr.’s composition of The Blue Danube. Although Hitch took
out most of the play’s music, it’s still the closest we’ll ever get to a
Hitchcock musical. We watched this obscure film and actually have a pretty fun
discussion about this movie we were both kinda dreading.
The Details: Waltzes from Vienna, released 1934 by Tom
Arnold Production. Produced by Tom Arnold, screenplay by Alma Reville and Guy
Bolton, adapted from Bolton’s play. Starring Esmond Knight, Jesse Matthews,
Edmund Gwenn, Fay Compton, and Frank Vosper.
Ranking: 51 out of 52. Ranking movies is a reductive parlor
game. It’s also fun. And it’s a good way to frame a discussion. We aggregated
over 70 ranking lists from critics, fans, and magazines, and will be going
through Alfred Hitchcock’s films from “worst” to “best.” Walzes from Vienna got
313 ranking points and is in second-to-last last place.