Old Hungarian films – Bob herceg

One of my favourite Hungarian films, since I have watched it almost a thousand times with my siblings when we were little children. Such a pity that there were no HD cameras back in that time.

The story is simple, yet cute. Prince Bob is the heir to the British throne and he is engaged to Princess Victoria, but the young prince used to visit the streets of London in disguise – and, of course, met a beautiful girl, Annie, and fell in love with her. However, because of her father’s debts, Annie is to be married the rich Plumpudding, a boastful barber of the Bowie street.

What makes this film iconic (aside from the prince) is the music itself – the whole story and the music as well is based on the operetta of the same title, written by Huszka Jenő. The operetta was very successful in its own time, and its tracks became really popular. My beloved ones are the Londonban, hej and the Bordal.

The Londonban, hej is the debut scene of the prince. (By the way, as a random comment, do you know the place depicted as the royal palace? It’s the Száraz–Rudnyánszky mansion in Nagytétény.)

The Bordal (Drinking song) is the happiest song in the world. The lyrics is not the original from the operetta, as it was modified a little, but in my opinion it just became better this way.

If you have time and enough desperation, please watch Bob herceg!

by Alla