The most popular of Reinhold Schuenzel's German directorial efforts, Viktor und Viktoria is a spoof of such music-hall "male impersonators" as Vesta Tillie. Unable to get a show-business job, would-be singer Renate Muller is urged by her somewhat epicene friend Hermann Thimig to adopt a brand-new stage persona. Our heroine re-invents herself as a cross-dressing entertainer, posing as a man (Viktor) who poses as a woman (Viktoria)! The fun begins when Muller falls in love with Adolf Wohlbrueck, who can't quite understand why he's so attractive to the aggressively male "Viktoria." Viktor und Viktoria was remade in England by Jessie Mathews as
First a Girl (1936), then of course by
Blake Edwards as the 1981
Julie Andrews vehicle Victor/Victoria. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide