Of course, to have Tschaikovsky of all people have a heterosexual love affair seems somehow funny today, although his love interest is played by Zarah Leander, who is also a gay icon. In any case, this is a brilliant movie if one likes high drama by divas, and Zarah sings one of the most famous and touching songs of the time, "Nur nicht aus Liebe weinen", which has not lost its charm today. And indeed, there are some superb ball and society scenes set in Imperial Russia, which for many viewers will only profit through the beautiful black-and-white.