The Black Hussar (1932)
Overview
In 1812, during the French period, large parts of Germany are occupied by the troops of Napoleon. Several paramilitary Freikorps units battle the French forces, among them the Black Brunswickers led by the 'Black Duke' Frederick William of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. After the War of the Fifth Coalition, the Black Hussars are pursued by Napoleon throughout the country, but frequently take refuge with the noble-minded German people.
Cast
Conrad Veidt
Captain Hansgeorg von Hochberg
Mady Christians
Marie Luise
Ursula Grabley
Brigitte
Wolf Albach-Retty
Leutnant Aribert von Blome
Otto Wallburg
Le Gouverneur Darmont
Gregori Chmara
Fürst Potovski
Bernhard Goetzke
Duke Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig
Fritz Greiner
Corporal of the Pursuit Party
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Conrad Veidt is the chivalrous leader of the "Black Hussars", fighting a valiant battle against the occupying forces of Napoleonic France. He is charged with rescuing the Princess bride-to-be of his Duke (Mady Christians) before she is married off by the Emperor to his polish puppet "Prince Potovski". He manages to rescue her, easily enough, but it soon transpires that the pair have quite some history - and loyalties start to become divided. It's quite a familiar story, but has enough of the "Zorro" or "Prisoner of Zenda" about it to keep it entertaining. Veidt and his loyal, enthusiastic sidekick "Bubi" (Wolf Albach-Retty) work well together and keep the swash buckling along quite well; Otto Wallburg is effective as the pompous dumpling that is the French Governor and the whole thing has a certain light-hearted energy to it. Not great, not pretending to be, I suspect - just a good action adventure that allows this star of silent films to begin to stretch his vocal chords on screen a bit.
