Der Komödiant von Wien (1954)

This film traces four decades in the life of Alexander Girardi, from 1870 to 1910. As a young man, Girardi works as a journeyman locksmith, but he has always dreamed of the stage. One day, he goes to Vienna to make that dream come true. The going is difficult at first, and Girardi has to settle for minor parts at insignificant venues. The young man struggles to make his way amid the intrigues flourishing in the world of the theater. A recommendation from the famous composer Franz von Suppè brings him his breakthrough. He also wins the patronage of the Waltz King, Johann Strauss II, who even composes a waltz for Girardi. As a popular actor and singer at the Theater an der Wien, unafraid to voice criticism of Vienna’s establishment, Alexander Girardi grows hugely popular with ordinary people. After a bitter rivalry with his colleague Felix Schweighofer, he becomes the undisputed audience favorite. As a result, women begin to take an interest in him too—not always for the noblest of reasons. One of them, his fellow actor Helene Odilon, succeeds in getting him to marry her. Equally elegant and quite lacking in character, Helene is currently enjoying success at the Vienna Volkstheater in the role type that suits her perfectly: the polished, well-mannered society lady. She hopes to gain a share of Girardi’s fame through their relationship. But then she cheats on her husband at every turn. When Alexander Girardi consequently leaves her, his ex-wife begins to plot against him relentlessly and even tries to have him declared mentally incompetent. Helene’s scheme fails, and Girardi is fully exonerated thanks to his fellow actor Katharina Schratt, who takes the case to her lover, Emperor Franz Joseph I. Finally, the popular comic actor reaches the pinnacle of recognition when he at last receives an engagement at the prestigious Burgtheater. Now he has arrived where he had always wanted to be.