White Horse Inn (1948 film)

White Horse Inn is a 1948 British musical film directed by Carol Reed and starring Michael Denison, Anne Crawford, and Petula Clark. It is an adaptation of the popular operetta Im weißen Rößl (The White Horse Inn) by Ralph Benatzky. The film is a romantic comedy set in a picturesque Austrian lakeside inn.

The plot revolves around the head waiter, Leopold Brandmeyer (Denison), who is desperately in love with the inn's owner, Josepha Vogelhuber (Crawford). Josepha, however, is uninterested, and is waiting for the arrival of Dr. Siedler, a lawyer who visits the inn every year. A series of comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements ensue, involving various guests, including a young girl, Ottilie (Clark), and her sweetheart, Sigismund.

The film features lavish musical numbers and beautiful scenery, showcasing the Austrian Alps. While not a critical triumph, White Horse Inn was a popular success in its time, capitalizing on the enduring appeal of the operetta. It is one of several film adaptations of the stage show, which has been performed countless times around the world.