Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Mehdi Hoffman There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Michael Morrison I disliked this story the first few times I saw it because of the selflessness (look it up ... in an Ayn Rand dictionary) demanded of the Student Prince.Seeing it again on Turner Classic Movies on 3 Nov 2015, in a marathon of Norma Shearer movies, I was so overwhelmed by the performance of Miss Shearer I could almost overlook the psychological destruction of Karl Heinrich.If Norma Shearer has ever given a better performance, I've not seen it and really can't imagine a better. She was lovely, and her character "Kathi," was innocent, beguiling, strong-willed, honest, exuberant, simply adorable. Simply wonderful.Henceforth, I am a confirmed Norma Shearer fan, a worshiper.Jean Hersholt has a great role as a lovable tutor who realizes the lonely little boy who is Crown Prince needs a friend as much as he needs a teacher.That Crown Prince is beautifully played by Ramon Novarro, whose career later fell on hard times for some reason, but who was so great in so many silent films, including this one and "Ben Hur."He was a good-looking young man, and more than capable. Watch his eyes, and his expression, especially during the drinking scene as the Crown Prince arrives at the school in Heidelberg. Especially watch his eyes. Magnificent performance.And watch him when he's told "Duty. Obligation. Tradition." Collectivist concepts are so destructive of human happiness.How an individual human being is subordinated to collectivist concepts is one key element of "A Student Prince" and we get a suggestion of why everyone needs to read I Samuel 8, for a look at the other side of the point of that biblical chapter.As sad as "A Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" ultimately is, it is still a classic film, with a superb cast in the sad story, and one reason it is a classic is its director: Ernst Lubitsch was one of the absolute masters of this visual art. (He directed a 1925 version of "Lady Windermere's Fan," the Oscar Wilde story. Just imagine a silent version of that talkative author's work! Yet Lubitsch pulled it off -- beautifully.)Carl Davis, a marvelous modern composer, is probably the perfect choice to create a score for a silent -- or talkie -- film, and he produced the one used here, adding one more layer of art and beauty to a moving movie.Obviously I do recommend, highly, "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg."

Cristian Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)**** out of ****Directed by Ernst LubitschWith Ramon Novarro and Norma ShearerPrince Karl Heinrich have an easy life, with all pleasure, but he hate that, he want to know the world. Suddenlly, he is send it to old Heidelebrg to study and there known, not only friends but love. Beautiful, rich, splendorous Lubitsch gem is so fresh than ever, with a gentle, incredible and beautiful Novarro and an adorable and stunning Shearer. Beautiful scenes that get sticked in your head with an uncommon ending for the time. A must see!

wes-connors Ramon Novarro (as Karl Heinrich) is the Crown Prince of Karlsburg. He is envied by his subjects, but lonely and isolated behind castle walls. Quite Princely in appearance, and capable of performing royal duties, he is, nonetheless, not enamored with dutiful royalties. With help from tutor Jean Hersholt (as Dr. Juttner), he becomes an honor student, and is goes to university at Old Heidelberg. There, he meets and falls in love with commoner Norma Shearer (as Kathi)."The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" is a first rate silent film production, expertly directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Mr. Novarro is appropriately exuberant as the young Prince - his performance is excellent throughout, but really starts to dazzle in the scenes beginning with his witnessing of Ms. Shearer's downing a German beer. Mr. Hersholt is great as Novarro's tutor; both men are superior with the necessary "silent screen" acting, and the more forward "underplaying". Ms. Shearer is just a step behind her co-stars in artful acting; but, it's a a gap she will very quickly fill. Shearer is terrific in the scene when she learns Novarro is leaving, and helps him pack. Philipe de Lacy is notable, playing the Prince as a boy; his characterization matches the older Novarro - director Lubitsch directs these early sequences effectively, creating the image of a young prince in his castle prison.When a couple of important people in the Prince's life die, the story becomes necessarily more somber in tone. Of course, Novarro must eventually become King - these scenes are beautifully symbolic, and extraordinarily well photographed. The visit by an old friend prompts Novarro's return to Old Heidelberg, with unexpected results. Don't miss a later scene, when Novarro returns to his Old Heidelberg bedroom - especially, watch how Novarro briefly strokes his bed, obviously thinking of Shearer; it's a superb little bit of sexual suggestion. It would be nice to know whether the gesture originated with Novarro or Lubitsch - but, it's probably not possible to determine. "Is it Good to be King?" You'll know when you see Novarro's beautifully acted final scene, in his royal carriage - certainly, it's one of the most memorable performances in silent cinema. ********** The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (9/21/27) Ernst Lubitsch ~ Ramon Novarro, Norma Shearer, Jean Hersholt, Philippe de Lacy

Ron Oliver Freed from the strictures of the Karlsburg royal palace to attend University, THE STUDENT PRINCE IN OLD HEIDELBERG experiences true love for the first time.This wonderful, exuberant, heartbreaking film - one of the last major movies of the Silent Era - is a scintillating example of the artistry of director Ernst Lubitsch. Filled with wry humor & aching pathos, Lubitsch tells a tale which is a persuasive paean to the power of the talkless film.MGM had great faith in this movie & gave it excellent production values, with crowds of extras and picture-perfect sets & costumes. Based in part on the Wilhelm Meyer-Förster novel & the operetta by Sigmund Romberg, the film revels in romanticism.Ramon Novarro, always eager to please his audience, brings great charm to the title role. Although about 10 years too old to be playing a typical university freshman, he nonetheless brings tremendous enthusiasm to the role. It was this essential boyishness which encouraged MGM to continue giving him roles which were too young for him (in 1932's HUDDLE he would play a Yale freshman). The Studio also insisted on giving their Mexican star a wide range of ethnic parts, everything from Chinese to Arab. He played them all well, but none better than here in STUDENT PRINCE. It is a shame that Hollywood would not reciprocate by giving him topnotch assignments.Norma Shearer is radiant as Kathi, the vivacious & lovely barmaid who is beloved by the Prince. She gives a wonderful performance in what was considered a breakthrough role for her. She married MGM executive Irving Thalberg the same year STUDENT PRINCE was released and her stardom at the Studio was firmly established. She earned her celebrity through hard work and honest talent, however, not by noodling with the boss.Jean Hersholt, as the Prince's gentle tutor, puts his own stamp on the kind of sympathetic role with which he would become associated. Miles removed from his villainous portrayals in TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY (1922) or GREED (1925), Hersholt here is the very embodiment of benevolence.Gustav von Seyffertitz as the cold King, Edmund Connelly as the stern Prime Minister & Bobby Mack as an old rustic retainer all add very fine support. Movie mavens will recognize Lionel Belmore as a boisterous student & Charles K. Arthur as a drowsy inebriate, both unbilled.Carl Davis supplied one of his typically bravura scores for the home video reissue of the film. He conducts the English Chamber Orchestra.While Karlsburg is a fictitious Teutonic kingdom, Heidelberg is a very real city located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. As ancient capital of the Rhenish Palatinate, its electoral counts - always a branch of the Wittelsbach royal family of Bavaria - played a significant role in the history of both the Holy Roman Empire and Central Europe. Although originally Roman Catholic, political vicissitudes brought about a change to Protestantism centuries ago. Heidelberg University was founded in 1386 by Count Rupert I & chartered the same year by Pope Urban VI. After a period of dissolution, it was revitalized in the 19th Century as a center of the sciences, law & philosophy. Town & gown are both overlooked by Heidelberg Castle, one of Europe's mightiest fortresses, where it sits on its hill 330 feet above the Neckar River. Its cellars contains the fabled Heidelberg Tun, a prodigious 18th Century wine cask capable of holding 49,000 gallons - surely a source of wonder to the Student Prince & his classmates...