Blossom Time (1934)

Stars:

Richard Tauber, Jane Baxter, Carl Esmond

It's difficult to believe that Sigmund Romberg's treacly operetta Blossom Time was ever produced anywhere outside of a high school gymnasium, but in fact the play was extremely popular in its first run. While several American musicals utilized the mittel-European ambience of Blossom Time, the only official film version of the operetta was made in Great Britain. Set in Old Vienna, the libretto spotlights famed composer Franz Schubert (played by opera luminary Richard Tauber), who loves a woman (Jane Baxter) from afar. He stands by in quiet desperation as his beloved is married to a dashing military officer, then pours his sorrow (and his love) into his work. To avoid royalty payments, most of the Sigmund Romberg score is jettisoned, replaced by authentic Schubert themes. Blossom Time was released sporadically in the US as April Romance; most exhibitors chose to book a less costly Hollywood version of Schubert's life, Love Time (34).