Ein Walzertraum (1925)

Duke Eberhard XXIII of Flausenthurn wants his daughter, Princess Alix, to make a suitable match with the not-so-young heir to the throne, Prince Peter Ferdinand. But she takes a much greater fancy to her adjutant, the young and attractive Nikolaus Count Preyn, known as “Nux” for short, who, in a wine-fueled mood, expresses his affection with a rather unexpectedly delivered kiss. She cannot know that he is quite a rascal and carefree scamp who does not take such things too seriously. In any case, Alix is in love with him, and a wedding is planned. But marriage does not fit the young man’s plans at all: he would rather continue enjoying his youth without ties or constraints, perhaps in the company of the lively Viennese violinist Franzi Steingruber at a Heuriger. Princess Alix, however, has decided that it must be Count Nux, with his “Viennese charm”—him or no one! So the German princess decides to try to become as “Viennese” as possible for his sake. She looks for the perfect teacher of Viennese ways and, of all people, ends up with Nux’s sweetheart, Franzi! And Franzi does a thorough job with the rather stiff “Prussian.” Prince Consort Nux also notices his intended bride’s gradual transformation. But when an argument breaks out, Nikolaus wants to burn all his bridges at once and run away with Franzi. Late, but not too late, he realizes that Alix truly loves him, and so the two finally get together after all, not least with Franzi’s help.