3 reviews
Violeta or Violetta Cortés (Carmen Sevilla) is a popular flower vendor from the Albaicin who during a walk through Sacromonte (Granada) reads the hand of Eugénie de Montijo (Simone Valère) , whom she foretells will one day be Empress. At night, Violeta, who dances in a Flamenco tablao, meets Juan de Ayala, Eugenia's cousin who intends to woo her despite knowing that nothing can happen between a Lord and a gypsy. Days later, Juan Ayala accompanies his cousin and aunt to Paris, where Violeta's prediction is fulfilled when Eugenio marries Napoleon III, thus becoming Empress of France. This fact will be used by Don Juan (Luis Mariano) to learn more about the beautiful Violetera. Eternally grateful to the one who will later become the Empress of France , Violetta miraculously comes out alive thanks to the Imperial Violets . The sovereign turns the young gypsy woman into her companion. This devotion extends to the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect her benefactor from a terrorist attack . The empress'cousin readily makes her his focus of attention .
Stars Carmen Sevilla who gives a sympathetic acting as Violetta , a gypsy girl is devoted to the Empress of France Eugénie of Montijo. Carmen Sevilla shines as fortune teller Violeta and the lady is Eugenia de Montijo, and when she marries emperor Luis Napoleón of France she takes the young girl with her . This is best-known operetta of all those starring Luis Mariano and Carmen Sevilla , the latter in the role of a cheerful gypsy who came to predict the future status of queen to Eugenia herself. A melodramatic plot served as a mere pretext for the insertion of musical segments to show off the stellar couple along with a brief intrigue about the Violetera who discovers a criminal attempt against the empress. This is Musical color version of a story previously played in 1932 by Raquel Meller as Violetta and Suzanne Bianchetti as Eugénie de Montijo. And previously a silent version Violetas imperiales (1924) starred by the same actors directed by Henry Roussel.
Directed by the French Richard Pottier, although for legal reasons, in the Spanish version Fortunato Bernal appears as co-director, who was actually an assistant director. The motion picture was lavishly produced by the powerful Spanish producer Benito Perojo and professionally directed by Richard Pottier , but without much emotion , no enthusiasm . Filmmaker Ricard Pottier broached various genres along his long career , so consistently mixed the good with the mediocre that it became quite impossible to know what to expect from him next . He was a solid artisan and certainly did not deserve the critics' contempt . He directed all kind of genres , such as comedies : "Si J'Etais Le Patron" , adventures : "Les Secrets De La Mer rouge", Sci -Fi : "Le Monde Tremblera" , Peplum and Historical : ¨David and Goliath¨ , ¨Romulus and the Sabines¨, detective films : "Picpus" , musicals : "Violettes Imperiales" , ¨Bella Otero¨, ¨Le chanteur de Mexico¨ , melodramas : "Defense D'Aimer" , among others . The picture is partially based on facts : Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Agustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, 19th Countess of Teba, 16th Marchioness of Ardales (5 May 1826 - 11 July 1920), known as Eugénie de Montijo , was Empress of the French from her marriage to Emperor Napoleon III on 30 January 1853 until the Emperor was overthrown on 4 September 1870. From 28 July to 4 September 1870, she was the De facto head of state of France. Born to prominent Spanish nobility, Eugénie was educated in France, Spain, and England. As Empress, she used her influence to champion "authoritarian and clerical policies"; her involvement in politics earned her much criticism from contemporaries. Napoleon and Eugénie had one child together, Napoleon, Prince Imperial (1856-79). The Empress held anti-Prussian views and disliked its chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, for what she perceived as his "meddling" in Spanish affairs. She believed that France's status as a great power was under threat, and that a victory against Prussia would secure her son's future rule . After the fall of the Empire, the three lived in exile in England ; Eugénie outlived both her husband and son and spent the remainder of her life working to commemorate their memories and the memory of the Second Empire.
Stars Carmen Sevilla who gives a sympathetic acting as Violetta , a gypsy girl is devoted to the Empress of France Eugénie of Montijo. Carmen Sevilla shines as fortune teller Violeta and the lady is Eugenia de Montijo, and when she marries emperor Luis Napoleón of France she takes the young girl with her . This is best-known operetta of all those starring Luis Mariano and Carmen Sevilla , the latter in the role of a cheerful gypsy who came to predict the future status of queen to Eugenia herself. A melodramatic plot served as a mere pretext for the insertion of musical segments to show off the stellar couple along with a brief intrigue about the Violetera who discovers a criminal attempt against the empress. This is Musical color version of a story previously played in 1932 by Raquel Meller as Violetta and Suzanne Bianchetti as Eugénie de Montijo. And previously a silent version Violetas imperiales (1924) starred by the same actors directed by Henry Roussel.
Directed by the French Richard Pottier, although for legal reasons, in the Spanish version Fortunato Bernal appears as co-director, who was actually an assistant director. The motion picture was lavishly produced by the powerful Spanish producer Benito Perojo and professionally directed by Richard Pottier , but without much emotion , no enthusiasm . Filmmaker Ricard Pottier broached various genres along his long career , so consistently mixed the good with the mediocre that it became quite impossible to know what to expect from him next . He was a solid artisan and certainly did not deserve the critics' contempt . He directed all kind of genres , such as comedies : "Si J'Etais Le Patron" , adventures : "Les Secrets De La Mer rouge", Sci -Fi : "Le Monde Tremblera" , Peplum and Historical : ¨David and Goliath¨ , ¨Romulus and the Sabines¨, detective films : "Picpus" , musicals : "Violettes Imperiales" , ¨Bella Otero¨, ¨Le chanteur de Mexico¨ , melodramas : "Defense D'Aimer" , among others . The picture is partially based on facts : Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Agustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, 19th Countess of Teba, 16th Marchioness of Ardales (5 May 1826 - 11 July 1920), known as Eugénie de Montijo , was Empress of the French from her marriage to Emperor Napoleon III on 30 January 1853 until the Emperor was overthrown on 4 September 1870. From 28 July to 4 September 1870, she was the De facto head of state of France. Born to prominent Spanish nobility, Eugénie was educated in France, Spain, and England. As Empress, she used her influence to champion "authoritarian and clerical policies"; her involvement in politics earned her much criticism from contemporaries. Napoleon and Eugénie had one child together, Napoleon, Prince Imperial (1856-79). The Empress held anti-Prussian views and disliked its chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, for what she perceived as his "meddling" in Spanish affairs. She believed that France's status as a great power was under threat, and that a victory against Prussia would secure her son's future rule . After the fall of the Empire, the three lived in exile in England ; Eugénie outlived both her husband and son and spent the remainder of her life working to commemorate their memories and the memory of the Second Empire.
A filmed operetta with the usual suspects Luis Mariano and Carmen Sevilla.
Violetta (Sevilla) is a modest Spanish singer who meets future Empress Eugenie de Montijo .A fortune teller reveals to Eugenie she will be "more than a queen" .A couple of years later,Eugenie marries Napoleon the Third and calls Violetta to be her lady -in -waiting.In Paris ,she falls in love with Eugénie's cousin (Mariano) but he would marry only a lady of high birth.Fortunately there are conspirators in France and Eugenie is in jeopardy.And of course Violetta would give her life for her sovereign.
Forget French history,and if you like operettas ,you will enjoy stuff like this.If you don't ,rent "Woodstock" or "Gimme Shelter" instead.
Violetta (Sevilla) is a modest Spanish singer who meets future Empress Eugenie de Montijo .A fortune teller reveals to Eugenie she will be "more than a queen" .A couple of years later,Eugenie marries Napoleon the Third and calls Violetta to be her lady -in -waiting.In Paris ,she falls in love with Eugénie's cousin (Mariano) but he would marry only a lady of high birth.Fortunately there are conspirators in France and Eugenie is in jeopardy.And of course Violetta would give her life for her sovereign.
Forget French history,and if you like operettas ,you will enjoy stuff like this.If you don't ,rent "Woodstock" or "Gimme Shelter" instead.
- dbdumonteil
- Aug 6, 2006
- Permalink
Violeta, a gipsy girl, reads Eugenia de Montijo's hand and foretells that she will become an empress. When Eugenia marries Napoleon she calls the girl to the court. Both in Granada and in Paris, Violeta must suffer the attentions of Juan (Eugenia's cousin) who has fallen in love with her and wants to set her up as his mistress. The movie is a musical and Carmen Sevilla has a beautiful voice. I only wish something have been done about the male singer; his voice grates on my nerves.