Whom the Gods Love (1942 film)
Whom the Gods Love (German: Wen die Götter lieben) is a 1942 Austrian historical musical film directed by Karl Hartl and starring Hans Holt, Irene von Meyendorff, and Winnie Markus. The film is a biopic of the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was made as a co-production between the giant German studio UFA and Wien-Film which had been set up following the German annexation of Austria. The film was part of a wider attempt by the Nazis to portray Mozart as an authentic German hero. Like many German biopics of the war years, it portrays the composer as a pioneering visionary. The title refers to Mozart's middle name Amadeus (Latin for "love God") and to the aphorism "he whom the gods love, dies young" (Latin: "") from Plautus' Bacchides, lines 816–17, and earlier Greek sources, including Homer's mention of Trophonius; Mozart died at the age of 35. A British film of the same title had been released in 1936. Cast Hans Holt as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Irene von Meyendorff as Luisa Weber Langer Winnie Markus as Konstanze Weber Mozart Paul Hörbiger as Von Strack Walter Janssen as Leopold Mozart Rosa Albach-Retty as Frau Mozart Annie Rosar as Frau Weber René Deltgen as Ludwig van Beethoven Thea Weis as Sophie Weber as Josepha Weber Curd Jürgens as Emperor Joseph II Hans Siebert as Duke of Mannheim Richard Eybner as Baron von Gemmingen Fritz Imhoff as Albrechtsberger as Hoeffer as Süssmayr Doris Hild Franz Herterich Otto Schmöle Theodor Danegger Alfred Neugebauer Hermann Erhardt Louise Kartousch Erna Berger as Singer Siegmund Roth as Singer Karl Schmitt-Walter as Singer Dagmar Söderquist as Singer See also The Mozart Story (re-edited version for the USA, 1948) References Bibliography Hake, Sabine. Popular Cinema of the Third Reich. University of Texas Press, 2001. External links 1942 films 1940s biographical films German biographical films Films of Nazi Germany Films set in Vienna Films set in the 18th century Films directed by Karl Hartl Cultural depictions of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Depictions of Ludwig van Beethoven on film Films about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Biographical films about musicians Films about classical music and musicians Films about composers Austrian historical musical films 1940s historical musical films German historical musical films Austrian black-and-white films German black-and-white films UFA GmbH films 1940s German-language films Biographical films about composers