The Great Waltz

Sumptuous MGM kitsch, shot with great panache by Joseph Ruttenberg but treating Johann Strauss and his music to most of the clichés known to the biopic book (the snivelling romantic complications are very hard to take). Victor Fleming took over direction latterly from Duvivier, but the final sequence (Strauss' instant composition of 'The Blue Danube' and tearful farewell to his illicit love) was conceived and directed by Josef von Sternberg.