Pola Negri in Richard Wagner parody (Opera parody) - (Hi Diddle Diddle) 1943

[glawsny]

Negri is stunning!

[alterfritz]

Tja, wie gut dass das in den 40ern gemacht wurde. Heute koennte man nur noch sagen, Witz komm raus, Du bist umzingelt!

[hauptmannbalalaika]

Gee, how that reminds me of my Wagner singer aunt in Berlin who sang for Christmas and accompanied herself on my grandma's grand! I think my Polish speaking grandma knew Pola but I was too little to absorb these stories.

The animation is a back projection, I believe. We did live and do things before computers, man!

[operacat1]

Love the reference to Casablanca,,,

[MrKipW]

Not so much a parody as a travesty, I'd say, but thanks a lot for showing it to me!

[LaKatharinaElena]

Sehr sehr witzig! Vor allem wenn man in Bayreuth geboren ist - so wie ich - wo man ständig mit Wagner konfrontiert wird ;-))

[ducdebrabant]

Negri is the best thing in it. She's so charming and funny and winning, and she looks like a million dollars.

[nubermini]

:D:D The picnic family really is great!! :D But I think their singing isn't as bad, it's more the interpretation... xD

Referring to the Wagners: think of Marry Poppins or so... Isn't it the same with the animation skills?

[megaswenson]

Exactly how I feel about German Opera! Amazing animation, too, for 1943! How did they do that without computers? Wow!

I assume this was to arouse anti-Nazi sentiment, somehow, since the war was in full-swing at that moment. Hitler, of course, LOVED Wagner, so to spoof his sacred composer would send a strong message....

[Versipelles]

@megaswenson The animation was by Friz Freleng, from over at Warners.

[megaswenson]

@Versipelles Thanks! It's truly amazing.

[Bexarkid]

It was well known in the States when it premiered in 1943 with June Havoc and Adolph Menjou. It was Pola Negri's first film in Hollywood after returning from War-torn Europe. It is quite goofy, even though it didn't get good reviews. Sadly, she only made one more after that -- The Moonspinners in 1961 with Haley Mills -- for Walt Disney. She died in 1987 in San Antonio, Texas

[antoniod]

I don't know, but It's not well known here.

[antoniod]

This is an American film, but I'll bet It's better known in Sweden!

[Alparfan]

You make me curious. Why better known in Sweden?

[jutubaeh]

@Alparfan cause of big big big money Äh tanned tree lol

(nothing gainst good ol lude von of k.o.rse)

did you know swedens supposed to be boarderlands to hibbelpürrea?

mü-haha 

[divinoy]

Buena parodia. 5*****

[bobinobaker]

Ein großartiges, besonderes Bonbon ! Sehr schön . Danke Alparfan !

[Leotaurus1975]

Sehr sehr lustig! Danke Alex.

[dairyman716]

Wann bitte, geht der nächste Schwan?