"Schubert's Serenade"

"Schubert's Serenade," at the Fine Arts, can not boast of any the attributes which make other French films so superior to our domestic productions. In the first place, it does not quite know whether it wants to be musical comedy or a story of Schubert's early life in Vienna. If it were the latter it would have to be rather morose, since Schubert's existence in these years was anything but gay. If it were the former it would have to be fast-moving and tuneful, since by definition a musical comedy is both of these. But instead of restricting itself to one mood the picture tries to combine the gay lightheartedness of the City of the Waltz with the sad impecuniosity of Franz Schubert, the unappreciated genius.

Perhaps with better direction the picture might move faster. But the airy touch which one usually associates with French direction is entirely absent, and the plot is allowed to sag of its own weight. The acting, though not exceptional does not detract too much from the quality of the film. Lillian Harvey, as the English girl with whom Schubert falls in love, manages to carry off a difficult role with considerable understanding. But she is not enough to save the picture from being a slow, slightly tuneful attempt to capitalize on the fact that Schubert was a great composer.