'Danube Rendezvous' is froth, notably only because it offers some interesting views of Budapest circa 1936, and because it shows that Hungarians were able to indulge in such frivolity at a time when events in Germany and Austria were getting very serious indeed.
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT. Zita Perczel (an attractive blonde actress) plays Erzsi, the daughter of pompous businessman Sandor. She wants to marry Istvan Bodo, a handsome young novelist. Just now, this particular novelist is struggling (aren't they all?), but the pengoes are sure to come rolling in just as soon as Istvan publishes his latest novel. (Oh, so that's how it works.) Sandor, showing what his priorities are, makes it plain that he consents to his daughter's marriage to this bum (I mean this novelist) only providing that Istvan's novel is a success. Actor Gyula Csortos -- who reminds me of Edward Arnold -- gives a good performance as Erzsi's father: he makes it quite clear that he's giving his conditional consent only because he's confident that the novel will never sell.
But then the book gets published, to favourable reviews, and suddenly Sandor must scramble to sabotage the novel's success so as to block the marriage. Why doesn't he just withdraw his consent? Come to that, if Istvan becomes financially successful, why does Erzsi even need her father's consent?
There's a funny performance by Gyula Kabos as Szalai, the publisher's publicity agent. He runs an advert in the Budapest papers, purporting to be a personal ad from a (nonexistent) wealthy young man seeking matrimony if he can find just the right young woman: a woman like the heroine in Istvan Bodo's novel. Naturally, this causes a run on book sales, as mercenary women hope to read the novel so as to pattern themselves after its heroine.
There's a 'surprise' ending that's really no surprise at all. Thanks to Szalai, Istvan's novel sells so well that Istvan is now a wealthy young man seeking matrimony: just like the guy in the ad. And -- surprise, surprise -- he based his novel's heroine on Erzsi. So, the young man in the advertisement (guess who) does indeed marry a woman just like the one in the novel (guess who). I could see this coming from the other side of the Danube.
As I say, this is froth, and it certainly has its charms without expanding the sum total of cinema craft. Good performances all round, and some impressive direction and exteriors. 'Danube Rendezvous' achieves what it sets out to do: entertain audiences, and nothing more. I'll rate this movie 8 points out of 10.
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT. Zita Perczel (an attractive blonde actress) plays Erzsi, the daughter of pompous businessman Sandor. She wants to marry Istvan Bodo, a handsome young novelist. Just now, this particular novelist is struggling (aren't they all?), but the pengoes are sure to come rolling in just as soon as Istvan publishes his latest novel. (Oh, so that's how it works.) Sandor, showing what his priorities are, makes it plain that he consents to his daughter's marriage to this bum (I mean this novelist) only providing that Istvan's novel is a success. Actor Gyula Csortos -- who reminds me of Edward Arnold -- gives a good performance as Erzsi's father: he makes it quite clear that he's giving his conditional consent only because he's confident that the novel will never sell.
But then the book gets published, to favourable reviews, and suddenly Sandor must scramble to sabotage the novel's success so as to block the marriage. Why doesn't he just withdraw his consent? Come to that, if Istvan becomes financially successful, why does Erzsi even need her father's consent?
There's a funny performance by Gyula Kabos as Szalai, the publisher's publicity agent. He runs an advert in the Budapest papers, purporting to be a personal ad from a (nonexistent) wealthy young man seeking matrimony if he can find just the right young woman: a woman like the heroine in Istvan Bodo's novel. Naturally, this causes a run on book sales, as mercenary women hope to read the novel so as to pattern themselves after its heroine.
There's a 'surprise' ending that's really no surprise at all. Thanks to Szalai, Istvan's novel sells so well that Istvan is now a wealthy young man seeking matrimony: just like the guy in the ad. And -- surprise, surprise -- he based his novel's heroine on Erzsi. So, the young man in the advertisement (guess who) does indeed marry a woman just like the one in the novel (guess who). I could see this coming from the other side of the Danube.
As I say, this is froth, and it certainly has its charms without expanding the sum total of cinema craft. Good performances all round, and some impressive direction and exteriors. 'Danube Rendezvous' achieves what it sets out to do: entertain audiences, and nothing more. I'll rate this movie 8 points out of 10.
