The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) The Waltz King: Part 1 (1963) User Reviews

This is a film that hits the core of every heart...

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 8/10 · 23 May 2004]

'The Waltz King' is a sweet, lovable Disney movie with great music that hits the core of every heart moving your spirit and soul… I hope that someday it will be released on DVD for all the young kids of the world… We need this kind of films to educate, entertain, and stimulate our children… Something that keep them away from violence, and elevate their spirit and their emotion…

'The Waltz King' tells the beautiful story of Johann Strauss, Jr. who is not cut out to be a lawyer as his father commands… Johann's life is only in music… The film relates how the lovely Henriette Treffz encourages Johann's career giving him cash money for his grand debut…

The dashing hero of adventures pictures, Kervin Mathews, proves to be a threat to his father, the genius, the master, and the idol… Mathews plays the sensitive gifted artist who creates the kind of music people like to hear…

Senta Berger is Strauss' support, the sweet, feminine, and elegant opera singer who couldn't resist the excitement, adding one more element of charm and sweetness to the film…

Brian Aherne fails to spoil his son's debut, and captures the spirit of Vienna's gay spring nights directing his son's orchestra…

Peter Kraus plays the shy brother (Josef Strauss) who proves once for all that conducting is the second nature of a Strauss....

Fritz Eckhardt plays the enthusiastic music empresario who will pay anything so that Schani's debut doesn't come off…

Vilma Degischer (Mama Strauss) read her husband's mind when she implores: 'Do so with charity in your hearts.'

If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of Viennese charm and elegance with the two Johanns who ruled the Viennese dance world, with waltzes and operetta melodies, invite your family to see this film… I'm so confident that they will be very pleased...

This Johann Strauss bio-pic is well done and most enjoyable!

[gilturk · 9/10 · 8 March 2008]

Johann Strauss,Sr played by Brian Ahearn, is believable. The late Kerwin Mathews' role as Johann, Jr, is excellent and quite a contrast to his action-adventure films from the same period. As in most film biographies of musical composers, Hollywood ( and Disney) take many liberties, intending mostly to capture the mood and flavor of the era (in this case Vienna of the mid-to late 19th Century). The story is well crafted and it is nice to see that Johann's younger brother Josef (Peter Krauss)a more timid lad and also a composer of lesser renown, is encouragingly portrayed. The singing of Strauss' music by Senta Berger is not on par with the legendary Miliza Korjus ( 1938's 'THE GREAT WALTZ' ) or German coloratura soprano Erna Sack, but is engaging, intelligent and much more than adequate in a 'made-for-tv' film. In North America it's TV presentation was split over two Sunday evenings,whereas in Europe it had a successful run in movie theaters.

IT IS A SUPERB FAMILY MOVIE- one that I am happy to have in my collection. RUNNING TIME IS 94 MINUTES - COLOR. If interested in a copy to DVD from an original mint VHS, feel free to contact me at above email address.