Волшебная музыка автора «Сказок Венского леса» в обработке Дмитрия Темкина, голос и красота оперной дивы Милицы Корьюс (эмигрантки из России), очарование 2-кратной обладательницы «Оскара» Луизы Райнер в роли жены Штраусса и, наконец, режиссура мэтра французского кинематографа Жюльена Дювивье — вот составляющие бешенного успеха этого фильма.
Prague in the 1860s: Balduin is a popular, handsome student, the best fencer in town, in amicable rivalry with his friend Dahl for the affections of Lydia, the innkeeper's niece. While the students are celebrating Lydia's birthday, the opera singer Julia Stella arrives at the inn - and Balduin's life begins to unravel. He is immediately infatuated with the glamorous singer - but she is already kept by an admirer, the wealthy and foppish Baron Waldis. How can a poor student hope to compete? The mysterious Dr. Carpis, who also has ties to Julia and is jealous of the Baron, intervenes. But the price will be higher than Balduin can ever imagine. He risks his sanity and his life - perhaps his very soul - haunted by his own reflection.
