"The Strauss Dynasty" (1991) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Marvin J. Chomsky

Writer:

Zdenek Mahler (writer)

Release Date:

22 December 1991 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Anthony Higgins	...	Johann Strauss
Stephen McGann	...	Schani Strauss
John Gielgud	...	Dreschler
Edward Fox	...	Metternich
Alice Krige	...	Olga
John Rhys-Davies	...	Gribov
Cherie Lunghi	...	Jetti
Lisa Harrow	...	Anna
Anton Lesser	...	Levi
David Yelland	...	Lanner
Duncan Bell	...	Pepi
Adrian Lukis	...	Edi
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Hirsch
Ronald Lacey	...	Bauer
Geoffrey Whitehead	...	Halmi
Jane Arden	...	Karoline
Paris Jefferson	...	Eva
Julia Stemberger	...	Emmi
Sophie Ward	...	Kathi
Emma Harbour	...	Lili
Emily Richard	...	Adele
Michael Aichhorn
Alf Beinell
Christopher Benjamin
Wolfgang Böck
Toni Böhm
Roger Booth
Jaromír Borek
David Cameron
Alex Covalsky
Vilma Degischer	...	Dancing old woman
Benno Felling
Don Fenner
Fritz Fleischhacker		(as Friedrich Fleischhacker)
Michael Gampe
Susanne Granzer
Robert Grass
Julia Gschnitzer
Fritz Hammel
Miguel Herz-Kestranek
Dietrich Hollinderbäumer
Peter Janisch
Colin Jeavons	...	K.u.k. civil servant in a License office
Georges Kern
Beatrix Bilgeri		(as Beatrix Kopf-Bilgeri)
Erhardt Koren
Hans Kraemer
Hubert Kramar
Christoph Künzler
Georg Lhotzky
Alexander Lhotzky
Marika Lichter
Martin Löschberger
Rudolf Melichar
Wolfgang Michaelk
Michael Mohapp
Franz Morak
Sandra Neufeld
Ralph Nossek
Trevor Peacock
Hans Pemmer
Klaus Rott
Michael Schindlbeck
Rolf Schwab
Heinrich Schweiger
Herwig Seeböck
Patricia Simpson
Gideon Singer
Oliver Stern
Markus Stolberg
Alexander Strobele
Markus Thill
Gudrun Tielsch
Alexander Trojan
Peter Uray
Guido Wieland
Gusti Wolf
Bela Zak
Krista Stadler	...	Olga's Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Günter Großmann	...	Passenger at the Railway Station (uncredited)
Philipp Karner	...	Young Johann Strauss (uncredited)

Directed by
Marvin J. Chomsky

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Zdenek Mahler		writer

Original Music by
Laurence Rosenthal

Cinematography by
Gérard Vandenberg

Film Editing by
Petra von Oelffen

Production Design by
Thomas Riccabona

Costume Design by
Uli Fessler

Production Management
Alexander De Grunwald	....	production supervisor
Wolfgang Rest	....	unit manager

Art Department
Johannes Slapa	....	property master

Sound Department
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Uli Nefzer	....	special effects best boy

Visual Effects by
Steven Begg	....	matte artist

Stunts
Peter Hric	....	stunts
Gustáv Kyselica	....	stunts
Lubomir Misak	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Constantin Kesting	....	camera operator

Music Department
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Jamie Luker	....	assistant score engineer
Malcolm Luker	....	scoring mixer
Paul Mottram	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Gerhard Rupp	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer
Pauline Hume	....	graphic artist: titles
Wolfgang Rest	....	location manager

Production Companies

• ECA Partiners
• MR Filmproduktion
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF)

Distributors

• Beta Film

Country:

Austria

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Baden, Lower Austria, Austria

Company:

ECA Partiners

Beautiful!!! Inspiring!!! Pleasure to watch!!!

I saw this series for the first time in 1992 when it was on Polish TV but I have come back to it many times with great pleasure since then. THE STRAUSS DYNASTY shows the lives of Johann Strauss father and then his sons, the most famous of whom was Johann Strauss son, called Schani.

The whole story is shown with the focus on family life of the Strausses and their career. Their music, the unforgettable waltzes, can be appreciated throughout. I especially like the scene in Paris where Johann Strauss presents his new waltz "An Der Schonen Blauen Donau". At first, no one seems to be keen, but later.... Other moments worth considering are the ones showing Schani's journey to Russia.

Besides, you can find very good cast in this series. The main roles are played by Anthony Higgins (famous British actor) and Stephen Mc Gann (who can be found in many J. Chomsky's films). Among others, Alice Krige is excellent in the role of an insane Olga, Cherie Lunghi also performs very well as Schani's wife, Yetti and an unforgettable John Gielgud. He isn't given much time on screen as old Drechsler, but is equally unforgettable as in his great roles. Nevertheless, he is excellent, as always. John Rhys Davies gives a wonderful performance as prince Gribov: these facial gestures, the way he speaks (consider a funny moment he describes Russia to Schani just before signing the contract concerning Schani's journey). And Lisa Harrow as Mama Strauss is unforgettable. She appropriately presents a woman of strong will, ambition, and of a good heart. Definitely, the acting in this series IS of very high level!

There are many other factors that make this film worth watching. Many scenes are touching, especially the end when Schani is sitting on his armchair and coming back to important events in his life. He sees his father, his brothers, his childhood, the women he loved. When his memory comes to the current events, he closes his eyes and dies. I know that it may seem strange and longish, but Marvin J. Chomsky, most probably, aimed at showing people's belief - when we die, we see our lives.

But the most important factor that talks for the mini series, I think, is the music itself. The director makes a perfect use of it, entailing it in most of the scenes as a background. The lovers of the waltzes will absolutely love the film.

The effect of THE STRAUSS DYNASTY is similar to their music. As a famous orchestra director, Riccardo Muti, said on the 1st of January 2004 in Vienna: "The music of Strauss unites the whole world". THIS SERIES DOES A SIMILAR JOB. Do watch it. You will not regret.