The Black Hussar

Conrad Veidt is the chivalrous leader of the "Black Hussars", fighting a valiant battle against the occupying forces of Napoleonic France. He is charged with rescuing the Princess bride-to-be of his Duke (Mady Christians) before she is married off by the Emperor to his polish puppet "Prince Potovski". He manages to rescue her, easily enough, but it soon transpires that the pair have quite some history - and loyalties start to become divided. It's quite a familiar story, but has enough of the "Zorro" or "Prisoner of Zenda" about it to keep it entertaining. Veidt and his loyal, enthusiastic sidekick "Bubi" (Wolf Albach-Retty) work well together and keep the swash buckling along quite well; Otto Wallburg is effective as the pompous dumpling that is the French Governor and the whole thing has a certain light-hearted energy to it. Not great, not pretending to be, I suspect - just a good action adventure that allows this star of silent films to begin to stretch his vocal chords on screen a bit.