Eleanor Finch
The 1955 Constitution was Ethiopia's second written constitution, prompted by a desire to improve the country's international image. It consolidated the Emperor's absolutist powers while introducing concepts like the separation of powers and expanding the role of parliament. In this same year, the romantic film genre was in full swing, with classics like 'It Happened One Night' and 'Gone with the Wind' captivating audiences. The genre has continued to evolve, blending with other genres like drama and comedy, but always retaining its core tenets of chance encounters and heartfelt passion. One such film from this era is 'Lola Montez', inspired by the life of the famous Irish dancer and actress, Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, who captivated audiences across Europe and became the mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical romance, biography, drama |
| Based on | The novel La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès by Cécil Saint-Laurent |
| Director | Max Ophüls |
| Language | French, German, English |
| Setting | 1850s New Orleans |
| Cast | Martine Carol, Peter Ustinov, Paulette Dubost, Anton Walbrook, Henri Guisol, Lise Delamare, Oskar Werner, Jean Galland, Will Quadflieg, Héléna Manson, Ivan Desny, Ivan Desni |
| Production companies | French, West German |
| Production cost | 7.2 million marks |
| Release date | 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
Characteristics of romantic films: chance encounters, heartfelt passion, complex love triangles
The 1955 film Lola Montès is a historical romance film that depicts the life of Irish dancer and courtesan Lola Montez, played by Martine Carol. The film is based on the novel La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès by Cécil Saint-Laurent and tells the story of her notorious affairs with Franz Liszt and Ludwig I of Bavaria.
Lola Montès is a romantic film that contains several characteristics typical of the genre. One such characteristic is chance encounters. The film begins with a chance encounter between Lola and the Circus Master, who recruits her and lists San Francisco as an important city in North America. The film also includes complex love triangles, such as Lola's affairs with multiple lovers, including the composer Franz Liszt and King Ludwig I of Bavaria, which led to her being made Countess of Landsfeld.
Heartfelt passion is another key characteristic of romantic films, and Lola Montès portrays this through its exploration of Lola's passions and desires. The film depicts Lola as a woman with a scandalous past, driven by her passions and desires, which leads her to a life of performing in a circus. The film also showcases the extreme emotion and drama throughout, with one review commenting on the "deep, complex" nature of the film and the empathy it evokes for its protagonist.
The use of flashbacks in Lola Montès also contributes to the romantic tone of the film, allowing the audience to see Lola's past and present simultaneously. The film's structure, with its artificiality and highly mannered romanticism, adds to the overall romantic feel. The director, Max Ophüls, is known for his ability to sustain a consistent personal tone throughout his films, and Lola Montès is no exception. The mood, music, camera movement, sets, and costumes all work together to create a unified romantic tone.
Overall, Lola Montès is a visually stunning and narratively daring film that effectively combines chance encounters, heartfelt passion, and complex love triangles to create a romantic portrayal of Lola Montez's life.
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Lola Montez: an Irish dancer, actress, and courtesan
Lola Montez, born Maria Dolores Porriz y Montez, was an Irish dancer, actress, and courtesan. She was known as "The Most Scandalous Woman in the World" and was famous for her many affairs with prominent men in 19th-century Europe, including composers, soldiers, students, artists, and royalty. She was the mistress of Franz Liszt and King Ludwig I of Bavaria, which led to her being made Countess of Landsfeld.
The 1955 historical romance film "Lola Montès" depicts the life of Lola Montez, played by Martine Carol. The film is based on the novel "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès" by Cécil Saint-Laurent and was directed by German-born Max Ophüls. It was shot in French, German, and English, with each scene filmed separately in each language, increasing production costs and time. The film is structured around flashbacks of Lola's life, presented as a circus performance in which Lola answers questions about her past.
The film was not initially well-received, performing poorly at the box office and receiving criticism for its use of flashbacks. As a result, the producers re-cut and shortened the film to be more chronological, against the director's wishes. However, it has since gained critical admiration and is recognized for its artistic influence on the French New Wave cinema movement.
The real-life Lola Montez was a fascinating and complex woman, whose story continues to captivate audiences and inspire artists even today.
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Montez's influence on King Ludwig I of Bavaria
Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, better known by her stage name Lola Montez, was an Irish dancer, actress, and courtesan. She was born on February 17, 1821, in Grange, County Sligo, Connacht, Ireland. Montez became famous as a Spanish dancer and mistress of King Ludwig I of Bavaria.
Montez first met King Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1846 in Munich. She soon became his mistress and was able to use her influence to support liberal political and social causes. She was granted Bavarian citizenship in 1847, which caused riots in Munich. On Ludwig's 61st birthday, she was created Countess of Landsfeld and was given a large annuity.
Montez's influence on the king was so great that she was able to get the Minister of State, Karl von Abel, dismissed because he objected to her being granted Bavarian citizenship and a title. She also encouraged the king to close the University of Munich when one faction rose up against the king and her influence on him. However, with the revolutionaries gaining power, Ludwig was forced to re-open the university and abdicate the throne in 1848, while Montez fled to Switzerland.
Montez's relationship with Ludwig I contributed greatly to his forced abdication, despite his previous popularity. She lived in luxury with the money she received from him and continued to write to him, mainly to ask for more money.
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Ethiopia's second written constitution
Lola Montès is a 1955 historical romance film. It is based on the novel La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès by Cécil Saint-Laurent and depicts the life of Irish dancer and courtesan Lola Montez (1821–1861), portrayed by Martine Carol. The film tells the story of her notorious affairs with Franz Liszt and Ludwig I of Bavaria. Shot in French, German, and English, the film is a co-production between France and West Germany. Despite being the most expensive European film produced at the time, it underperformed at the box office.
Now, onto the topic of Ethiopia's second written constitution.
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. The country's first modern constitution was adopted in 1931 during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. This constitution was based on the Meiji Constitution of Imperial Japan and consisted of 55 articles arranged in seven chapters. It asserted the Emperor's status, reserved imperial succession for the line of Haile Selassie, and vested all power in the emperor.
Following a Marxist coup in 1974 that overthrew Emperor Selassie, a communist constitution was officially adopted in 1987. However, due to the oppressive regime, rebel groups overthrew the Marxist government in 1991. The Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE) was formed, and in 1994, a new constitution was adopted, establishing the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's 1994 constitution is a result of the government's policy of "ethnic democracy." It establishes a federal and democratic state structure, with nine regional states, and provides for the protection of all Ethiopian languages and equal state recognition. The constitution also sets out the powers of the House of the Federation, including interpreting the Constitution and deciding on issues related to the rights of nations, nationalities, and peoples to self-determination.
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Romantic comedies: a popular subgenre
Romantic comedies are a popular subgenre of films that centre on the development of a romantic relationship between the two main characters, often with humorous elements. While the 1955 film Lola Montez is not a romantic comedy, it does fall into the broader category of a romantic film and shares some similarities with the subgenre.
Lola Montez is a historical romance film that tells the story of the notorious affairs of the Irish dancer and courtesan, Lola Montez, in the 19th century. The film is based on the novel "La vie extraordinaire de Lola Montès" by Cécil Saint-Laurent and is the last completed film by German-born director Max Ophüls. It is a co-production between France and West Germany, with dialogue mostly in French and German and some English sequences.
The film uses flashbacks to depict Lola's life and her relationships with composer Franz Liszt and King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The circus setting adds a layer of spectacle and artificiality to the narrative, with Lola being presented as the main attraction. While the film did not perform well at the box office initially, it has since been re-edited and restored, gaining critical admiration and influencing the French New Wave cinema movement.
Romantic comedies, or rom-coms, often feature similar elements of spectacle and artificiality in their narratives. They typically focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two characters, incorporating humorous situations and dialogue. While the specific plot details vary, rom-coms often include common tropes such as meet-cutes, obstacles to the relationship, and a satisfying resolution that affirms the power of love.
The success of romantic comedies lies in their ability to engage and entertain audiences with relatable characters, witty dialogue, and a feel-good storyline. They often reflect societal norms and expectations around love and relationships, offering a form of escapism and wish fulfilment for viewers. The popularity of rom-coms has endured over the years, with many films in this subgenre becoming cultural phenomena and fan favourites.
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Frequently asked questions
The film is about the life of Lola Montez, a 19th-century dancer, courtesan, and cabaret performer, and her many affairs with prominent men.
The film was directed by German-born director Max Ophüls and was his last completed film.
Martine Carol starred as Lola Montez, alongside Peter Ustinov, Paulette Dubost, Anton Walbrook, Henri Guisol, Lise Delamare, and Oskar Werner.
The film was released in 1955 and was shot in French, German, and English.
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