The Student Prince (1954)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Dorothy Donnelly (play)
Sonya Levien (writer)

Release Date:

15 June 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

The RISQUE, RIOTOUS FUN-LOVING MUSICAL...Filled with SIGMUND ROMBERG'S Rollicking Songs! (original print ad - mostly caps)

Plot Keywords:

Royal Romance | University | Beautiful Woman | Love | Remake

Cast

Ann Blyth	...	Kathie Ruder
Edmund Purdom	...	Prince Karl Franz
John Ericson	...	Count Von Asterburg
Louis Calhern	...	King Ferdinand of Karlsberg
Edmund Gwenn	...	Prof. Juttner
S.Z. Sakall	...	Joseph Ruder (as S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall)
Betta St. John	...	Princess Johanna
John Williams	...	Lutz
Evelyn Varden	...	Queen Mathilda
John Hoyt	...	Prime Minister Von Mark
Richard Anderson	...	Lucas
Mario Lanza	...	Prince Karl (singing voice)
Roger Alan	...	Von Fischtenstein
Steve Rowland	...	Feuerwald
Chris Warfield	...	Richter

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16921, General Audience) | USA:G (re-rating) (1971) | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Mario Lanza made two separate recordings from this film, both for RCA. The first, in mono, used the new lyrics especially written for the film, in addition to several songs written especially for the movie. The second, a stereo album released in 1959, featured soprano Norma Giusti as Kathie and, like the mono version, the new songs, in addition to some of the songs from the stage production. But the songs from the stage version were sung on this album with their original 1924 lyrics, not with the revisions heard in the film.

Quotes:

King of Karlsberg: Freedom is a luxury no king can afford.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Deep in My Heart (1954)

Soundtrack:

To the Inn We're Marching

Hitting High Notes

Mario Lanza's beautiful tenor soars on the soundtrack of this fairytale, loosely based on Sigmund Romberg's beautiful operetta.

In an interview on a Lanza bio program, Music Director George Stoll shared how Lanza came into the recording studio and rendered perfect one-takes on the entire score, within a remarkable single session.

The glorious timbre of his voice is a highlight of this film. A special treat is hearing the pleasant lyric soprano of Ann Blythe, who was a trained, experienced singer even before making her film debut. The two are heard to advantage in the lovely "Deep in My Heart" park scene duet.

Composer Nicholas Brodszky contributed two ravishingly beautiful added songs, "Beloved" and "I'll Walk With God," intoned to perfection by Lanza.

Alas, Director Richard Thorpe lets the production down with very routine and uninspired direction, allowing for often tedious pacing and formatting. Despite having a great cast to work with, his contribution produces a lethargic bent to the proceedings.

In the end, "The Student Prince's" attributes rest primarily on a beautiful soundtrack, rich score, attractive players, and Lanza's thrilling singing.