Rating: 
Summary: Great Film - fox lorber version.... at least it's cheap
Review: Ophuls is a master film maker and watching Lola Montes is to watch what movies at their best are capable of.
That said, I am interested to know what happened to the missing segments of this film - you always hear about it being cut callously - but I am not sure whether the original film still exists...
Anyway, see the movie despite inferior versions.
Rating:
Summary: Surreal...Poignant...and a Film Worth Having
Review: Ophuls last film, and a great one. He tells the story of Lola Montes, a courtesan, dancer, adventurer, and mistress to Franz Liszt and Ludwig of Bavaria. The framing device is a European circus, where Montes must tell her story at the command of the ringmaster. The jugglers, midgets, horses, tumblers, trapeze artists have a kind of surreal verve. Her story is told in anecdotal flashbacks.
The whole enterpise is lush and colorful, beautifully photographed in CinemaScope, and permeated with European worldliness. The conclusion is poignant. The writing is at times amusing and at times knowing. Martine Carol is the lead. Others include Peter Ustinov as the ringmaster, Oskar Werner looking very young as a hopeful lover, and that great, ripe actor Anton Walbrook.
Ophuls (La Ronde, Earings of Madame de) was one of the greats, and was only 55 when he died. He went out on top with this film.
Rating:
Summary: A Female Casanova -- or so she appears
Review: Other women in the same time period became famous for their artistic talents(George Sand for one) but Lola Montes had no real talent and so she made her mark by being beautiful and aggressive. These qualities won her many admirers and at least two famous lovers: the King of Bavaria and Franz Liszt. Its a complicated story though and one with many ironies. When Lola was younger her mother wanted to marry her off to a wealthy older banker but Lola refused and instead ran away with a young man who ended up being a drunk and a philanderer. We never really see Lola's transformation from young innocent girl into woman of the world but she makes the transition so completely that nothing of the little girl remains in the woman that Lola Montes becomes. The way Carol Martine plays her we assume that either Lola Montes has no emotions or that she has them but has learned to keep them to herself. Either way it seems what Lola really loves is a man who can take care of her in style and so the real love of her life is not Franz Liszt who she grows bored with but rather the King of Bavaria who sets her up in a little palace of her own which seems perfect for her (an icy palace in an icy land for the icy Lola). Later Lola will refer to this as the happiest period in her life but we are likely to attribute this happiness not to the elderly and deaf King of Bavaria himself but to the palace he provided her with. This was the one time in her life she had a home. When the stability of Bavaria is threatened by revolution she is forced out of her palace. Outside of Bavaria she is destitute and she has nothing to sell -- except her reputation. Though penniless shes now become famous or infamous throughout Europe and so when Ustinov offers her a salary for merely telling her tale she has little choice but to accept. In the 21st Century we are so used to seeing how people capitalize on scandal that its fascinating to see a nineteenth-century version of this phenomena. Its also fascinating to see how Lola Montes must play "Lola Montes". There is a huge difference between what really happened and what the public wants to hear happened and so the story that Ustinov tells each night is just a fiction designed to give the crowd what it wants. Lola herself just goes through the motions of playing this fictive "Lola" to make a buck. In our media savvy era we might have a hard time seeing Lola Montes as a victim, rather we are likely to see her as someone cashing in on her "fame". Lola is ultimately a victim however in the same way Jay Gatsby was a victim -- they are victims of others misperceptions of them. The misperception so often repeated takes on a larger than life reality while the real life is buried in the shadows. This is the tragedy of fame, this is the tragedy of Lola. It is perhaps the most fascinating study of personality of its era. And one that speaks to our era most pointedly.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Not be Too Picky
Review: Some reviewers on this site have blasted this transfer for low video and sound quality. Frankly, this caused me to hesitate several months before plunking down the cash to see this. Since the art house revival scene is dying out and you would never find this in the local Ballbuster, I realized that this was the only chance I had to see this movie--by reputation an overlooked classic.I hit the play button last night with a certain trepidation, mentally preparing myself to view a badly worn relic. Fortunately, the "low technical quality" rumors are much overblown. Yes, this is a 45 year old color film that did not see loving restoration in its DVD transfer. Nonetheless, color, resolution and sound rate a B or B+, but you would have to be a churlish obsessive to complain about it. The miracle is that you can get this film at all in eminently watchable condition. I suppose Oedipal elder abuse was a good publicity strategy for establishing street cred for the new wave, but Lola Montes provides convincing evidence that the French movie landscape of the early 50's has been unfairly denigrated as a musty dead end. Lola Montes is a high energy, exuberantly theatrical, cinematic tour de force on the same exalted level as Rules of the Game or Children of Paradise that testifies that the old wave went out in a blaze of glory, not sclerosis.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor video quailty
Review: The movie itself was great, but the transfer is extremly diaappointing, considering that Fox Lorber acquired it recently after Home Vision Cinema lost the video rights. Fox Lorber could have gone through new tranfers and a color and sound restoration, as they reportedly done with their new Truffaut releases on video and DVD (or it could've done by the French and picked up by convience and after Criterion lost their rights to the films, anyway, Fox Lorber claimed to have done "new translation"). The video and sound quailty is extremely poor that colors changed throughout a scene and the audio is quite low accompanied by tics and hisses. Fox Lorber did a disservice to everyone since this is the one and only source many of us have to watch the film. (As a side note, the director's cut, with a running time around 140 minutes, is rarely seen after it was butchered for a shorter running time since the production company was on the verge of bankruptcy as the movie failed to make any profit. This was done, sadly, when Ophuls was on his deathbed).
Rating:
Summary: The Most Beautiful French Film Ever Made
Review: This 1955 film was Max Ophuls' last. It stars Martine Carol as Lola Montes, the famous 19th century courtesan and Peter Ustinov as the circus ringmaster who is exhibiting her. In French with English subtitles. The gorgeous film is Max Ophul's masterpiece of brilliant cinematography and visual splendor. The music and the color are vibrant and the performances by the lead actors are all exceptional and even Oscar worthy. Anton Wallbrook stars as King Ludwig of Bavaria. Anyone interested in the films of Max Ophuls and in classic cinema should rent or buy this film. Although highly romanticized, this film remains accurate to historical fact. The 19th century saw a swarm of courtesans, women who, because they had not yet received equal rights with men or professional careers in any field, became Madames and courtesans of great fame. Lola Montes is said to have been the most successful and most desired courtesan of them all. It is said she was not the most attractive but she was an excellent Spanish dancer and possessed intellect and exotic charm. Lola Montes had countless lovers, among them King Ludwig of Bavaria and famed pianist and composer Franz Liszt. Her recollectionsa nd flashbacks are for the most part true. But the circus atmosphere is entirely fabricated for the sake of the movie. Lola Montes would never stoop so low as to present herself as a circus sideshow in the last years of her life, no matter how jaded she might have become. The film remains very French in its dry, cool wit and it's restraint. It's opera. It's ballet. It's art. This film should have won at least Best Foreign Picture, but in 1955, Foreign films had not yet become an Oscar item. It would not be until the 60's when there was more of a love for foreign films- such as the classic Elvira Madigan or the earlier Ingmar Bergman's Seventh Seal or Cocteau's Beaty and the Beast. Lola Montes stands its own among the best of these classic movies.
Rating:
Summary: Sad But True Story.......Beautiful Film
Review: This review refers to the Fox Lorber DVD edition of "Lola Montes"(1955)..... Director Max Ophuls,brillantly brings to the screen, the sad but true story of "Lola Montes". In the 19th century, she was the talk of Europe. Her affairs with dozens of men including the great composer Franz Liszt and even a King were infamous and resulted in such great scandal, that Lola became an object of hatred and curiosity. Outcast from society, in poor health and with no place to turn,her once regal lifestyle is now reduced to being put on display in a circus act that parallels her story. Once you enter her life, you'll be as captivated as her admirers were. The beautiful Martine Carol is the actress who portrays this tortured soul that no man could resist. The cast also includes, Peter Ustinov,as the seemingly cruel ringmaster forcing Lola to go on with her story,Anton Walkbrook as King Ludwig I ,so taken with Lola, he bestows on her her own palace. Also look for Oskar Werner as the young student. The early use of "CinemaScope" is wonderful and you can take in all the details on this DVD. Although the colors seem somewhat dated, I thought this 50 year old French film had a nice clear picture. The sound was recorded low and needs to be turned up a bit. The DVD includes Filmographies of the principle cast.The subtitles are nice and in the black bar area. It's a beautiful film, and a story that may leave you sighing.A nice addition to your foreign film collection...enjoy...Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Sad But True Story.......Beautiful Film
Review: This review refers to the Fox Lorber DVD edition of "Lola Montes"(1955)..... Director Max Ophuls,brillantly brings to the screen, the sad but true story of "Lola Montes". In the 19th century, she was the talk of Europe. Her affairs with dozens of men including the great composer Franz Liszt and even a King were infamous and resulted in such great scandal, that Lola became an object of hatred and curiosity. Outcast from society, in poor health and with no place to turn,her once regal lifestyle is now reduced to being put on display in a circus act that parallels her story. Once you enter her life, you'll be as captivated as her admirers were. The beautiful Martine Carol is the actress who portrays this tortured soul that no man could resist. The cast also includes, Peter Ustinov,as the seemingly cruel ringmaster forcing Lola to go on with her story,Anton Walkbrook as King Ludwig I ,so taken with Lola, he bestows on her her own palace. Also look for Oskar Werner as the young student. The early use of "CinemaScope" is wonderful and you can take in all the details on this DVD. Although the colors seem somewhat dated, I thought this 50 year old French film had a nice clear picture. The sound was recorded low and needs to be turned up a bit. The DVD includes Filmographies of the principle cast.The subtitles are nice and in the black bar area. It's a beautiful film, and a story that may leave you sighing.A nice addition to your foreign film collection...enjoy...Laurie
Rating: 
Summary: Weak Portrait of Lola
Review: This visually impressive movie provides a circus like portrait of the famed Lola Montez. Those seeking a movie bio of the famous Irish lass turned Spanish strumpet and exotic dancer of her day will be somewhat disappointed by the film's treatment here. While rich with visual appeal and unusual scenes, it tells little about the woman or her life. The French actress who plays Lola is attractive, but has little of the fire and passion that her subject had. She is too French and restrained in her acting. Peter Ustinov and the whole circus routine is a unique way of showing what a circus Lola's life actually was with constant travel, lovers and scandal. Sure we get a few historical references about her life here and there inbetween the circus acts, but the overall story about this woman's life is shallow and weak at best. People who like artsy, unusual foreign films will no doubt go big time for this one, but those seeking a more substantial movie bio of this most fascinating woman of the 19th Century will surely not find it here. Even the part of the movie which deals with her famed affair with King Ludwig I of Bavaria is slow and vague on details. We see little here to indicate that the Bavarian monarch was so taken by her. Perhaps the best and most authentic part of this movie is the Bavarian regimental band parading by playing "Bayrische Defiller Marsch". A nice touch of historical accuracy with correct uniforms of the Bavarian army. Otherwise we learn little why Lola became such an annthama to the kingdom and why she was instrumental in provoking a revolution there in 1848. Overall a unique and visually stunning movie which leaves the viewer knowing little about its subject. Lola Montez would be a compelling topic to make a movie on today if they could restain themselves and do a decent job. Her life was certainly colorful and interesting and deserves a better biographic treatment that what she gets here. Also the picture quality on this French movie looks more like 1930s as opposed to 1950s. So much for French technology I guess. The DVD has done little to enhance the film or provide any extras.
Rating:
Summary: Weak Portrait of Lola
Review: This visually impressive movie provides a circus like portrait of the famed Lola Montez. Those seeking a movie bio of the famous Irish lass turned Spanish strumpet and exotic dancer of her day will be somewhat disappointed by the film's treatment here. While rich with visual appeal and unusual scenes, it tells little about the woman or her life. The French actress who plays Lola is attractive, but has little of the fire and passion that her subject had. She is too French and restrained in her acting. Peter Ustinov and the whole circus routine is a unique way of showing what a circus Lola's life actually was with constant travel, lovers and scandal. Sure we get a few historical references about her life here and there inbetween the circus acts, but the overall story about this woman's life is shallow and weak at best. People who like artsy, unusual foreign films will no doubt go big time for this one, but those seeking a more substantial movie bio of this most fascinating woman of the 19th Century will surely not find it here. Even the part of the movie which deals with her famed affair with King Ludwig I of Bavaria is slow and vague on details. We see little here to indicate that the Bavarian monarch was so taken by her. Perhaps the best and most authentic part of this movie is the Bavarian regimental band parading by playing "Bayrische Defiller Marsch". A nice touch of historical accuracy with correct uniforms of the Bavarian army. Otherwise we learn little why Lola became such an annthama to the kingdom and why she was instrumental in provoking a revolution there in 1848. Overall a unique and visually stunning movie which leaves the viewer knowing little about its subject. Lola Montez would be a compelling topic to make a movie on today if they could restain themselves and do a decent job. Her life was certainly colorful and interesting and deserves a better biographic treatment that what she gets here. Also the picture quality on this French movie looks more like 1930s as opposed to 1950s. So much for French technology I guess. The DVD has done little to enhance the film or provide any extras.
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