The Student Prince

Ah, Lutz, my friend.

I must remind you once again,

Herr Professor,

I am not your friend.

Aha, but I am yours.

You're a lucky fellow, Lutzy.

My name is Lutz,

and as usual Professor Juttner,

you will be late.

What can his highness

learn from you?

A teacher

and you can't even tell time.

Small minds

stick with the clock.

His highness is always punctual.

That's

what I've been trying to do,

educate him out of it.

I don't know

why I bother with you.

It's your duty, Lutzy my lad.

I only do it

to please his highness.

His highness'

very words to me were

"I should esteem it a favor,

my dear Lutz,

if you could make the professor

look more presentable. "

And I said,

I should esteem it an honor,

your highness.

Every man is entitled

to his honor.

Oh, we're late!

A most appropriate sermon

considering the day.

Thank you, your majesty.

Permit me to congratulate

your royal highness

on your forthcoming betrothal.

And may I include good wishes

for Princess Johanna

of North Hausen.

Thank you.

She will be here tomorrow

and you can extend them

to her in person.

She is as gracious as

she is beautiful.

This marriage has truly

been planned in heaven.

Our prime minister

is too modest.

Von Mark planned it years ago

when the princess and I

was still children.

Of course with your blessings,

grandfather.

Should your royal highness

feel the need of

spiritual guidance and comfort,

I am at your command.

My guidance and comfort have

always been the knowledge

that I am doing my duty

for Karlsburg.

Well, Karl.

I have taken cared of

all the preliminaries,

but victory or defeat

is in your hands.

Tomorrow may well decide

the future of our country.

So when you

propose to the princess,

I count on you to carry it out

with your usual efficiency.

It won't be too difficult.

From her pictures,

she seems very attractive.

And in a receptive mood.

Why not?

It is true they have the money

but we have the blood.

They are merchants,

we are kings.

Oh, I should have worked

that subject, my boy.

She can afford to be fussy.

Don't worry, grandfather.

For such a dowry,

I'd marry a princess

with two heads.

Then I need scarcely remind you

that our treasury is empty.

Our treasury has been empty

for 200 years.

Yet somehow we have survived.

We have survived

when other thrones have fallen

not because we have been rich,

but because the men

of our family

have always been

extremely eligible.

Our code of arms reminds us

our wealth has been our sons.

Sir, when I hold her in my arms,

I will do my best for Karlsburg.

Her royal highness, the princess

Johanna of North Hausen.

You know, Ferddie,

I believe Karl is even better

looking than you were at his age

Not at all.

My dear, Mathilde,

it's just that time

has dimmed your memory.

Perhaps.

But at any rate, they'd make

a very handsome couple.

I can already see

their profiles on the coin.

Mother is very impressed with

the troop maneuvers today.

I'm pleased to hear it.

And what did you think of it?

After all these years,

I still think parades

are great fun, don't you?

Fun, Johanna?

Training our troops

is my responsibility,

and I assure it's

the hardest kind of work.

One can't ever let up.

I think...

that doesn't leave much time

for relaxation

or for dances like this,

does it?

Very little.

Why? Does my dancing show it?

Your highness dances

with firmness and precision.

But the throne of Karlsburg

won't fall

if you loosen your knees a bit.

Forgive me.

I've always considered

the parade ground

more important

than the dance floor.

perhaps,

one of my junior officer...

Everyone is looking at us.

I didn't come to Karlsburg

to find a dancing partner.

Why don't you invite me to see

the view from the garden?

Here now, this is much better.

No one is looking at us.

So perhaps we can at last

look at each other.

It's almost time for us

to receive the diplomatic corps

of both kingdoms.

Let them wait.

We owe ourselves

a little time together.

Surely we'll have plenty

of opportunity in the future.

I don't consider marriage

an introduction.

Aren't you curious to know

what kind of a person

you will spend

the rest of your life with?

I confess I am.

Oh, you needn't be?

I shall be a most punctilious

and considerate husband.

Karl, come here.

Look at me.

Forget your princely

self-possession for a moment.

I'm sure that even the

great warrior, Frederick the...

What's his name?

Frederick The Bold.

Even he must have had time

for other things.

After all,

he did found the dynasty.

We're quite alone.

Quite alone.

I hope I misjudge your highness.

I cannot assume that

the future queen of Karlsburg

wishes to be treated

like the ordinary woman,

one in contrast on maneuvers.

Oh, then you have

encountered other women?

What a question?

But that's no answer.

Very well,

I have on many occassions.

I find it hard to believe it.

Perhaps I can convince you.

Well?

Typically Karlsburg,

well-trained and precise.

Your arms are very strong, Karl.

But your heart

doesn't beat any faster.

You are a king first,

last and always

and you never forget it.

You complement me.

I don't mean to. Kings bore me.

Prussian virtues are impressive,

but cold comfort aren't

on a long winter's night.

Some coffee?

No, thank you.

You've ruined my sleep as it is.

My dear, Ferddie, I am merely

giving you an honest opinion.

You asked me to find out

and I'm telling you.

Karl won't do.

Just what does she expect?

A human being,

not a Prussian machine.

Karl was raised to be a soldier.

he is admired by...

by his regiment.

Johanna came to get a husband,

not to enlist.

The world is full of husbands,

but there are

very few crown princes.

I don't know

how you raise this girl,

but even she should see that

Karl is no ordinary fellow.

But there are times

when even a prince

should behave

like an ordinary fellow.

I know how important this

alliance is to you, Ferddie.

But you must face facts.

You, too, Mathilde,

must face facts.

Money will not get you

what you want.

What do you mean?

An interesting thing

has happened

to the royal families of Europe.

Every queen you encounter has

But there are mighty few

royal princes around.

There are eight sons

in Grabnick.

They never bathe.

There's Prince Olap.

He has ah... buck teeth.

Do you want your grandchildren

to have backed teeth?

Ferddie, that's blackmail!

Well, even the king must live.

Well, let's not quarrel.

We both want this marriage.

I'm not blaming Karl.

It's your fault.

You've taken

a perfectly nice boy,

and brought him up

to be a Prussian pickle.

Pickle?

He has the best education.

Not education, training.

You haven't taught him how to

get along with people.

They'd be no problem

with your honor

if you'd only get him to radiate

a little warmth and charm.

Warmth and charm.

Professor Juttner, did

his majesty sent for you, too?

Well, it must be serious.

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