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The Flute Concert of Sanssouci

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For the painting by Adolf Menzel of that concert, see Frederick the Great Playing the Flute at Sanssouci.

The Flute Concert of Sanssouci
Film poster
Directed byGustav Ucicky
Written by
Produced byGünther Stapenhorst
Starring
CinematographyCarl Hoffmann
Music byWilly Schmidt-Gentner
Production
company
Distributed byUFA
Release date
  • 19 December 1930 (1930-12-19)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman

The Flute Concert of Sanssouci (German: Das Flötenkonzert von Sans-souci) is a 1930 German drama film directed by Gustav Ucicky and starring Otto Gebühr.[1] It was part of the popular cycle of Prussian films.[2] It was made at the Babelsberg Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert Herlth and Walter Röhrig. Location filming took place around the Berlin area including at the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam.

Plot

In 1756, a masked ball is being celebrated in the Dresden Palais of the Saxon Minister Heinrich von Brühl. The event serves as cover for confidential talks being held with the envoys of Austria, Russia and France with the aim of conspiring against the Prussian King Frederick II. The Prussian envoy, Major von Lindeneck, sees through the charade and succeeds in bringing a copy of the concluded secret treaty to the Prussian king.

Friedrich consults with his generals, who urge caution. Initially stunned by the conspiracy, Friedrich develops a plan. To do this, he sends von Lindeneck back to Dresden. However, the latter is not very enthusiastic about this, as he thinks he has reason to doubt his wife Blanche's marital fidelity, and he now has to leave her alone. But loyalty to the king is more important to him and he carries out all the orders of the Prussian king.

When the envoys of Austria, Russia and France ask for an audience with Friedrich, he gives a flute concerto to gain time. (This event is based on a famous picture by Adolph von Menzel.) In the course of this concert he receives a telegram from Vienna which completely uncovers the plot. He ends the concert and orders the declaration of war to be handed to the envoys. He goes outside and announces that he has just given marching orders for the regiments. The Seven Years' War begins.

Cast

References

  1. ^ Hal Erickson (2011). "New York Times: The Flute Concert of Sans-Souci". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
  2. ^ Hoffmann p. 44

Bibliography

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