Land Without Music

Believing real life is an operetta, the citizens of the European country Lucco break into song at every blink of an eye. Since everybody's singing, nobody works, there's no money to pay taxes, and the country faces bankruptcy, leading the ruling princess to declare all music illegal. Enter opera singer Richard Tauber and American journalist Jimmy Durante to save the day and lead the citizens to march on the palace in protest--and in song.

So a tiny little Principality is faced with being taken over by the neighbouring nation - to whom it owes 10 million gold crowns. Faced with this ultimatum, the Princess decrees that her largely layabout population - who much prefer to sing and play music - must knuckle down and help settle the debt. To this end, she bans music - and a bit like the spinning wheels in "Sleeping Beauty" orders the destruction of all musical instruments. Enter "Mario Carlini" (Richard Tauber) and Jimmy Durante ("Jonah Whister") and insurrection looms. Much of the dialogue is delivered via the delightful tones of Tauber the tenor and the story is really just a charming vehicle for that, and Oscar Straus' score.