Albert Vajda

One of the most popular musical comedies of the 1950s starts with flirting between a bohemian sport pilot and a serious mathematics teacher. The lesson is that in life, not everything happens as would appear logical at the outset. In the wake of the inflexible and demagogic dramas of Stalinism, this colourful comedy was a true breath of fresh air. It is innovative not only for being full of great hits but also for being the first film in a very long time that was about pure love.

This concert film stages a never-realized gala at Budapest’s Opera House, stringing together eleven diverse numbers - from operetta and folk dance to popular songs - introduced by Vera Sennyei’s tongue-in-cheek on-stage announcements. Though framed as a live opening night, most performances were in fact shot in television studios, creating a playful pastiche of televised spectacle rather than a traditional concert film.