The Emperor Waltz

US (1948): Musical/Comedy/Romance

In this underrated gem from Billy Wider and Charles Brackett, traveling salesman Virgil Smith (Bing Crosby) wants to sell his Grammophones in pre-WW I Austria. To enhance this, he especially wants to sell one to Emperor Franz Joseph (Richard Haydn), but at first the Austrian palace guards think he is carrying a bomb. He meets the Countess Johanna von Stolzenberg-Stolzenberg (Joan Fontaine) and after the usual misunderstandings, falls in love with her, especially assisted by his dog Buttons. But the Emperor believes the romance between a Countess and an ordinary U.S. citizen cannot work in Imperial Austria. Is he wrong? Billy Wilder directs for Paramount. Supporting cast includes Roland Culver, Lucile Watson and Sig Ruman. (IMDb)

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2 nominations