Der Weg ins Freie

After a series of films with Carl Froelich, Zarah Leander preferred his assistant Rolf Hansen. Froelich remained in the role of producer at the time and devoted himself to a new film with Anna Ondra The Gasman. For Leander, another historical substance was prepared, this time from the middle of the 19th century, from the reign of von Metternich. She plays the Italian opera diva Antonia Corvelli, who is celebrating success in Vienna. Leander is wonderful in long excerpts from Rossini's "Semiramide" and Verdi's "Rigoletto." She changes many great costumes and wigs, and her chosen one is Hans Stüwe (Tchaikovsky from The Life and Loves of Tschaikovsky). Unfortunately, the prescribed melodrama doesn't deal with the question of when the lovelorn husband convinces the famous wife to leave for the country, but the whole thing is complicated by a blackmailer and a former lover in one, and the result is fatal. Given the time of his creation, the villain is of Polish nationality. The drama builds, Leander's songs are heartbreaking, and the ending is no match for the grand finale of "Violetta" with Garbo. Fans back then recalled that it was necessary to immediately go to another screening to chase away the sadness of the agonizing ending. (09.05.2021)