The Loves of Madame Dubarry

This is a delightful light operetta starring Gitta Alpar as Dubarry. It begins with her as a drudge in a hat shop and ends with her being presented at court -- I trust that, since is broadly based on history, I reveal no secrets. Under the direction of cut-glass-farce specialist, Miss Alpar is a flibbertigibbet who wants the finer things in life, but sincerely loves the man she is with at the moment, whether it is penniless poet Patrick Waddington, or His Majesty Owen Nares. She also sings beautifully.

I am not fond of most operettas in the movies -- too few of Gilbert & Sullivan or Offenbach have been translated to the silver screen. Fortunately, this movie, based on Paul Knepler's original show, has been moved to the screen by a set of writers that include Curt Siodmak and Frank Launder, offering a lot of cheeky humor.

Miss Alpar was born in Budapest and became a favorite in Vienna and Berlin. Because she had Jewish ancestry, she had to flee; her first husband, Gustav Fröhlich divorced her to maintain his position in Germany. She made some movies in England, including this one, then eventually came to the United States. Alas, her accent spelt the end of her performing career. She remarried, and earned a living as a singing teacher. She died in 1991, 91 years of age.