Willi Forst

Vienna, City of My Dreams

In the made-up country of Alanien, King Alexander I has been overthrown while abroad. Now, he's in Vienna with his daughter, the city of his fondest memories since studying there as a boy. It doesn't take long for the charm of Vienna to work its magic on the former king: he quickly comes to terms with the new situation and is able to enjoy the Austrian capital sans all the ceremony and trappings which would otherwise accompany him on a state visit. The princess is content with preparing herself for a career as a pianist concert, while the former king takes a job as a chauffeur in the embassy of the country he once ruled. The revolutionaries are shocked; and his days in Vienna are numbered.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Exposed to bad influences since childhood, Mary, a young girl is pushed by her mother to approach an elderly banker by the name of Harber. After almost driving her fiancee to suicide and seducing his mentally-ill son, she realizes through a metaphorical dream the scope of her negligence. Sentenced to prison for incitement to murder Harber, she sees herself as a parallel figure to Lea, Lot's wife in Sodom, where the Angel of the Lord warns the sinful citizens of the city of their impending doom. Lea oppresses the angel and eventually turns it over to the pagan priests when her sexual advances to it are rejected. In another dream sequence, Mary becomes the Queen of Syria, whose oppressed people turn against her and who, in turn, condemns a young man who loves her to death. Finally, her dream returns to the present time and when she awakens, she runs back to her former lover.

Vienna Blood

Young Count Georg Wolkersheim is sent to the Congress of Vienna to represent the interests of his country, Reuss-Schleiz-Greiz. Tensions arise between the count, his wife Melanie, and their two chamberlains, and when the four attend a court ball, Melanie leaves Georg, assumes the identity of a famous actress, and attracts the affections of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.

Viennese Girls

Begun in 1944/45, finished and released in 1949, this is a biography of the composer Carl Michael Ziehrer, who overcomes hypersensitivity in competitive situations which leads initially to failures in both career and romance.

So Ended a Great Love

The political advisor to the French emperor Napoleon, and the Austrian emperor Franz I, arrange a marriage between Napoleon and the Austrian archduchess Marie-Luise in order to prevent another war.

The White Horse Inn

Head waiter Leopold has been secretly in love with the hostess Josepha for a long time, but she only has eyes for Dr. Siedler, a guest in the White Horse Inn. Leopold tries to get Dr. Siedler interested in the daughter of Industrialist Giesecke, who would rather see his daughter married to Sigismund.

Dieses Lied bleibt bei dir

Unfug der Liebe

American businesswoman Muriel falls in love with an impoverished nobleman who is too proud to reciprocate her advances. Disappointed, she then succumbs to the persistent pursuit of a fortune hunter who is only after her. The fortune hunter's girlfriend becomes jealous, and to distract her, he persuades the impoverished nobleman to court his girlfriend. This, in turn, makes Muriel jealous, and so, in the end, the right couples are finally brought together.

Vienna, City of My Dreams

In the made-up country of Alanien, King Alexander I has been overthrown while abroad. Now, he's in Vienna with his daughter, the city of his fondest memories since studying there as a boy. It doesn't take long for the charm of Vienna to work its magic on the former king: he quickly comes to terms with the new situation and is able to enjoy the Austrian capital sans all the ceremony and trappings which would otherwise accompany him on a state visit. The princess is content with preparing herself for a career as a pianist concert, while the former king takes a job as a chauffeur in the embassy of the country he once ruled. The revolutionaries are shocked; and his days in Vienna are numbered.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Exposed to bad influences since childhood, Mary, a young girl is pushed by her mother to approach an elderly banker by the name of Harber. After almost driving her fiancee to suicide and seducing his mentally-ill son, she realizes through a metaphorical dream the scope of her negligence. Sentenced to prison for incitement to murder Harber, she sees herself as a parallel figure to Lea, Lot's wife in Sodom, where the Angel of the Lord warns the sinful citizens of the city of their impending doom. Lea oppresses the angel and eventually turns it over to the pagan priests when her sexual advances to it are rejected. In another dream sequence, Mary becomes the Queen of Syria, whose oppressed people turn against her and who, in turn, condemns a young man who loves her to death. Finally, her dream returns to the present time and when she awakens, she runs back to her former lover.

Vienna Blood

Young Count Georg Wolkersheim is sent to the Congress of Vienna to represent the interests of his country, Reuss-Schleiz-Greiz. Tensions arise between the count, his wife Melanie, and their two chamberlains, and when the four attend a court ball, Melanie leaves Georg, assumes the identity of a famous actress, and attracts the affections of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.

Viennese Girls

Begun in 1944/45, finished and released in 1949, this is a biography of the composer Carl Michael Ziehrer, who overcomes hypersensitivity in competitive situations which leads initially to failures in both career and romance.

So Ended a Great Love

The political advisor to the French emperor Napoleon, and the Austrian emperor Franz I, arrange a marriage between Napoleon and the Austrian archduchess Marie-Luise in order to prevent another war.

The White Horse Inn

Head waiter Leopold has been secretly in love with the hostess Josepha for a long time, but she only has eyes for Dr. Siedler, a guest in the White Horse Inn. Leopold tries to get Dr. Siedler interested in the daughter of Industrialist Giesecke, who would rather see his daughter married to Sigismund.

Dieses Lied bleibt bei dir

Unfug der Liebe

American businesswoman Muriel falls in love with an impoverished nobleman who is too proud to reciprocate her advances. Disappointed, she then succumbs to the persistent pursuit of a fortune hunter who is only after her. The fortune hunter's girlfriend becomes jealous, and to distract her, he persuades the impoverished nobleman to court his girlfriend. This, in turn, makes Muriel jealous, and so, in the end, the right couples are finally brought together.

Amor auf Ski

Die Sünderin

Going from a dysfunctional family into a life of prostitution, Marina finally finds happiness and comfort with unsuccessful artist Alexander. However, a brain tumor threatens to make him blind and only an expensive operation can save him.

The Stars Shine

German all-star musical from 1938 that was a big commercial success.

The Convict from Stamboul

Zezi, on being released from prison for smuggling, is ordered to leave the country. His incarceration has not lessened his craving for female society, but he finds his mistress false. A young girl, trying to sell vacuum-cleaners, calls at his home. Half-starved, she collapses. The blackleg’s heart is touched, and he befriends her. Gratitude on her side develops to love. Though she takes the place of the false one, she urges the man to marry her. This he does, though he has a wife, from whom he is separated.

Unfinished Symphony

Composer Franz Schubert--broke, struggling and unhappy--gets a break when a wealthy friend wangles him an invitation to a command performance in front of a princess of the royal family. Schubert performs a version of his new work, "Symphony in B Minor", for the princess, but a misunderstanding results in Schubert storming out of the concert in a rage. Complications ensue. English-language version of "Leise flehen meine Lieder."

Katharina Knie

"Katharina Knie" is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Karl Grune and starring Eugen Klöpfer, Carmen Boni and Adele Sandrock. It is based on the 1928 play of the same title by Carl Zuckmayer.

A Blonde Dream

Rival window cleaners Willy I and Willy 2 befriend Jou-Jou, an aspiring dancer, who has been tricked out of money by a con-man posing as an American movie mogul, and together they turn an old railway carriage into a "Villa Hollywood" for her.

Lover Divine

Franz Schubert works as school teacher, yet his mind and soul are in music. When he is engaged as a pianist for an aristocratic soirée he doesn't suspect how this will change his life forever and even determine his unfinished symphony.

The Song Is Over

Operetta diva Tilla Morland is celebrating her latest stage success with her friends at the Carlton Bar. At everyone’s request, she begins to sing the show’s main hit. While she is singing, a young man ostentatiously leaves the bar. Tilla cannot forget this incident, which she finds outrageous, and to her surprise, she recognizes the very same patron in her newly hired secretary, Ulrich Weidenau.

The Burning Secret

One autumn, Edgar, a 12 year old boy, spends a holiday with his mother at a plush hotel in Switzerland. His father, a busy lawyer, remains at the family home in Vienna. When he sees a stylish motorcar pull up at the hotel, Edgar wastes no time befriending its owner, an amiable dandy. The latter pays more attention to the boy’s mother than to the boy himself, and decides to use Edgar to wheedle his way into her affections. When Edgar realises he has been used, he is far from happy...

Kaiserjäger

The proud grandfather, retired General Count Hardberg, had actually already announced to his comrades that he would be the heir, but the grandson had become a granddaughter. Years later, Antonia had grown into a pretty but vivacious young woman. When the famous Kaiserjäger moved into their quarters at the castle, the cheeky countess had a bit of fun and slipped into her father's uniform. As Cadet Anton, she went along on maneuvers and drove her commander, First Lieutenant Pacher, to despair with her lack of discipline. But when Pacher noticed what an enchanting creature was hiding behind the cadet uniform, his heart was smitten...

A Girl You Don't Forget

A GIRL YOU DON'T FORGET can be thought of as a backstage musical that treats the whole world as backstage. Melodies seem to be buzzing through the air, available to anyone in the right state of mind. Willi Forst always is, and he is also an actor who can transform any space into a stage. Fritz Kortner, one of the defining personalities of the German theatre scene of the 1920s, makes the most of his star’s talent in an intricately constructed romantic comedy that believes in the truth of artifice. Forst plays Paul Hartwig, a wannabe actor who is reduced to selling books in the cold streets of Berlin. While pursuing his big break, he meets Lisa Brandes (Dolly Haas), another victim of the global financial crisis who has just learned a new trick: cheating horny old men out of their money by selling promises she does not intend to keep. Dedicated theatre man Paul decides to win her over by putting on an act, but a misplaced slap leads to unintended consequences. - Lukas Foerster

Operette

A musician is offered a job in Vienna as stage director, but his disagreements with the aristocratic opera manager end in abrupt firing in spite of a mutual attraction. He's quickly engaged by another theatre and becomes famous for his lavish stage productions and fine acting, which begins their golden age with Suppé and Strauss.

Women Are No Angels

Director Richard Anden and his screenwriter take a cruise on a luxury liner, avoiding all feminine attempts to get a movie contract, including the ship singer. When he unexpectedly discovers that a beautiful passenger is involved in a murder mystery and chased by the police he'll try to save her from jail.

The Theft of the Mona Lisa

A painter working at the Louvre is struck by the Mona Lisa. When he meets a girl whom he believes bears a resemblance to the painting, and who wants him to become famous, he comes up with the idea of stealing the painting. Based on the real-life theft of 1911.

Three from the Gasoline Station

Robert, Peter and Fritz are the best of friends ... and hopelessly broke. But they don't let that stop them and in short order, they end up renting a deserted gas station. With just a little bit of wit and some elan, they'll bring the old girl back to life and all will look rosy ... until all three of them fall in love with the same dame: Gabi, the daughter of the director of a large gasoline firm. Thanks to her, their eternal friendship is really going to be put to the test.