

Vienna in the beginning of the twentieth century. Cavalry Lieutenant Fritz Lobheimer is about to end his affair with Baroness Eggerdorff when he meets the young Christine, the daughter of an opera violinist. Baron Eggerdorff however soon hears of his past misfortune...
Direction
Ophüls' camera glides through Vienna like a ghost
Cinematography
Shadows and candlelight that prefigure film noir
Writing
Schnitzler adaptation that understands inevitability

Director
Max Ophüls
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ophüls fled Germany that same year; this was his last German film before exile.
Based on Arthur Schnitzler's play—he hated the film, possibly because Ophüls made the tragedy feel so seductively beautiful.