From my favorite movies..

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

SPOILERS *** Not sure why they called this "King Steps Out"... the leader of this burg seems to be Emporer Franz Josef, played by Franchot Tone. There are dukes, duchesses, princesses, colonels and captains, but no kings. Walter Connolly, known for his comedy is the duke of bavaria. Franchot Tone is the Emporer, and has the guards bring up "Cissy", the girl picking flowers. (Grace Moore) She keeps busting out into song. Yawn. This one would have been better if they jazzed up the script and left out the songs completely. Mistaken identities, silly inn-keepers, interfering parents, and suddenly they're in love. A couple twists, here and there. Its OK. Directed by Josef von Sternberg, who apparently had a reputation as a real jerk, acc to various sources. An interesting tale where Charlie Chaplin burned one of Sternbergs films, since it came out so terrible. Wikipedia has a whole entry on "Woman_of_the_Sea"... sadly, the film seems to be lost to time. When you watch this one, mute the operatic numbers and just enjoy the show.

Grace Moore stars as a feisty younger daughter of the eccentric Duke of Bavaria (Walter Connolly) whose oldest daughter is off to Vienna to marry the Emperor (Franchot Tone). Moore follows along, masquerading as a dressmaker. The arranged royal marriage when Tone spies Moore and is smitten. The masquerade continues in a merry mix-up until the finale.Moore is good here, light and comic, but the songs are all rather bland. Tone is handsome as the Emperor, and Connolly steals the show as the beer-guzzling duke. Co-stars include the wonderful Herman Bing as proprietor of the inn, Elisabeth Risdon as the Empress, Nana Bryant as the mother, Frieda Inescort as Helena, Victor Jory as Palfi, Eve Southern as the fortune teller, and Johnny Arthur as the inept chief of police. Others include Thurston Hall, Raymond Walburn, Al Shean, E.E. Clive, William Hopper, and George Hassell.Moore had a hit-or-miss 9-film career in the 30s, She flopped badly in her 1930 debut in A LADY'S MORALS but had a big hit and an Oscar nomination for ONE NIGHT OF LOVE in 1934.And yes, Broadway Superstar Gwen Verdon made her film debut here as a ballerina. She was 11 years old.

This one is tough to honestly evaluate. On the one hand you have Grace Moore and her wonderful voice, able and adequate supporting roles, notably by the always reliable and graceful Frieda Inescort, Franchot Tone and Walter Connoly, and of course Sternberg's direction. For me at least that's reason enough to watch any movie, even this one which in some ways is an utter disaster. On the other there's just too much silliness, foolishness and Herman Bing. He can be aggravating enough even in small doses but he does way too much of that trademark tongue rolling and quaking of his for my taste.And then there's the ages of the real Sisi (Moore's character, Elisabeth of Bavaria) and Franz Josef (Tone's character). When Sisi married Franz Josef she was 16 and he 24, not 40 and 30, the ages of Moore and Tone respectively. Even given the generous poetic license the producers took with the real story which is nothing if not tragic, there's only one way to look at this movie. It is nothing more than a vehicle for Grace Moore. And maybe that's reason enough to watch it.

Every serious director seems to have one frivolous gem of a comedy in him. Bergman had Smiles of a Summer Night. Hitchcock had Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This is von Sternberg's. The sometimes starchy "Miss Grace Moore" is relaxed and charming. Kriesler's tunes are as buoyant and sleek as the decor. Rich and sweet as a Viennese pastry and total escapism -- if one can forget the sad fate of the real-life Cissy who was mistreated by husband and mother-in-law and eventually assassinated. Another Hollywood deviation: Cissy was noted for her gorgeous hip-length black hair. Moore has short blonde curls. Oh, well, forget such petty details and let's have another delicious, delirious waltz.