This musical comedy, based on Fritz Rotter and Robert Stolz's hit
song by the same name, is described in
Film-Kurier, 1930, No. 1464 as follows:
"Alexandra is the Queen
of Gregorien and Prince Vicky, her humble Adjutant, is generally
held to be her designated fiancé. However, things unfold
differently.
Republican forces are hard at work
Republican forces are hard at work; their network includes a foreign
agent, Fedor Karew, who is supposed to find finances for them.
Revolution breaks out
and the Queen must abdicate.
At the officers' casino
in her Royal Guard's quarters, she appears one last time At the officers' casino
in her Royal Guard's quarters, she appears one last time
in
full regalia. The men there are in the midst of a farewell celebration.
The
next day she packs her bags to go to Paris and visit an old friend, Lady
Trobakoff, who has opened a cabaret there.
Her car is ready, the
motor running. Vicky is behind the wheel while the Queen, lost in a wave
of nostalgia, hums the refrain from Lieutenant Were You Once With The
Hussars?
They've already driven quite a while when
suddenly another car appears on the road ahead of them.
Vicky's pride makes him
try to overtake it; but this has dire consequences as they collide.
A not unpleasant looking
man climbs out of the other car and immediately tends to the Queen who's
still in a state of shock. During all this, Vicky tries to make
necessary repairs to his car.
A heated discussion
ensues. Suddenly there's a thunder storm and it begins to rain in
droves. Thus, the handsome stranger offers to drive the Queen, in his undamaged vehicle,
to the next village .
Vicky is still busy at
the scene of the accident while the Queen and Vicky is still busy at
the scene of the accident while the Queen and the handsome
stranger are already sipping a glass of wine together at the inn.
Their mood grows
increasingly cheerful and the stranger, who until now has refused to
reveal his identity, insists on Their mood grows
increasingly cheerful and the stranger, who until now has refused to
reveal his identity, insists on calling himself Romeo and her
Juliet.
Alexandra gets increasingly tipsy and
begins, as she was accustomed to do when she was queen,
to speak to her table partner in a tone of voice that is decidedly
dominating and military.
The stranger supposes
that she is an actress and asks where she has appeared on stage.
Alexandra, put on the
spot, names the Red Lantern, a Paris cabaret.
In
the meanwhile it's gotten late and the couple is brought to a room
together. ButIn
the meanwhile it's gotten late and the couple is brought to a room
together. But, by mutual agreement,
they separate it into halves with a screen.
AlexandAlexandra sleeps
late, well into the next day. When she finally
awakes, the stranger has
disappeared. But he's left a message saying good-bye and that
he'll see her at the Red Lantern!
The next morning
Alexandra drives on with Vicky who was extremely jealous about the
stranger. They are pursued by Knox, a theater agent who wants to sign on
the ex queen as a variety attraction.
KaKatharina Trobakoff
receives her old friend warmly. Vicky too feels at home in Paris after
befriending Mimi a gorgeous ballet dancer.
One evening, Alexandra discovers her
mysterious Romeo amongst the cabaret guests.
Basically she's happy about this, but is
put on the spot again when he asks her to get on stage
«
and let her talent as actress shine. »
Alexandra
Alexandra is desperate to remain incognito and
hastily searches through an old musical score closet to find some
hits that she can sing. She finally stumbles upon something which,
despite her stage freight, she performs, eliciting great applause from
the audience, but especially from « Romeo » who is particularly
enthusiastic. He invites Alexandra for dinner. Then, there in a loge at
the Red Lantern, the couple exchanges their first kiss.
Still, the next day, there's a horrible
discovery. Vicky has found the queen's abdication
Still, the next day, there's a horrible
discovery. Vicky has found the queen's abdication papers in the
stranger's car.
Everything
Everything suggests that he's none other than the
leader of the revolution, the ruthless Fedor Karew who, with the help of
this important document of State, intends to raise money for the new
republic.
Alexandra is shattered. She wants to immediately break up with him. In
the mean while Fedor has noted the document's disappearance.
He suspects
that Alexandra is involved, asks her to return it and accuses her of
being a spy.
« The future of an
entire country depends on this document » he says. So it is
returned to him. But once he has left, Alexander breaks down in tears. A
new lease on life had winked at her and the disappointment was
horrible...
Revolutions are followed by counter revolutions. In Gregorien the
monarchist party grows stronger again. Alexandra is called back to
retake her throne. She answers the regime's call, but only so that she
can protect her still beloved conspirator.
As
soon as Fedor crosses the border, he is taken into custody by Vicky. He
is held at the inn located there, where the queen also is lodging. So
the two of them see each other again and Fedor discovers that he was
about to As
soon as Fedor crosses the border, he is taken into custody by Vicky. He
is held at the inn located there, where the queen also is lodging. So
the two of them see each other again and Fedor discovers that he was
about to fall in love with the monarch he'd
overthrown.
There's nothing left that Alexandra can do.
Despite all their efforts, the money that Fedor raised in Paris has come
into the revolutionaries' hands..
Fedor's prospects look good. He has an excellent chance of becoming
president.
Voluntarily, the Queen withdraws her claim to the
throne. But now Fedor, because of his love for Alexandra, also gives up
all his ambitious plans. Instead of politics, he only wants to live
happily with Alexandra.
