Die Fledermaus (1937): cast, story & where to watch
1937 · Film · ★ 4
Released in 1937, Die Fledermaus is a notable film directed by Hans H. Zerlett, running about 103 minutes.
What it’s about. The delightful Johann Strauss comic opera Die Fledermaus was mercilessly lampooned in this truly bizarre production. For starters, a framing device has been added: After appearing in 300 consecutive appearances of Fledermaus (which translates as The Bat) the lead tenor (Georg Alexander) imagines that he's seeing bats everywhere. Driven a bit over the edge by all this, he falls asleep and has a nightmare about the opera, with a group of non-singers cast in the leading roles. The original libretto about romantic assignations, political imprisonments and mistaken identity is burlesqued to the hilt: at one point, the hero finds out that his prison cell is surrounded by rubber tubes!
Who’s in it. Die Fledermaus stars Lída Baarová as Maria Weigel / Rosalinde, Hans Söhnker as Kammersänger Hans Weigel / Eisenstein, Friedl Czepa as Hanni / Adele and Jola Jobst as Berta / Ida, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.0/10, Die Fledermaus has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Die Fledermaus page.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Die Fledermaus (1937)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Die Fledermaus change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Die Fledermaus worth watching?
- Die Fledermaus holds an audience score of 4.0 out of 10. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Die Fledermaus?
- Die Fledermaus stars Lída Baarová, Hans Söhnker, Friedl Czepa, Jola Jobst and Georg Alexander.