Singin' and Dancing Back in Time.: Sweehearts(1938)

Friday, July 2, 2010

Sweehearts(1938)

Sweethearts(1938).Director: W.S. Van Dyke. Cast: Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. The screenplay, by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell, uses the “play within a play” device: a contemporary Broadway production of the 1913 Victor Herbert operetta is the setting for another pair of sweethearts, the stars of the show.

The movie was MGM's first feature-length color film, and the Technicolor Company received a special Academy Award for ...its contributions in successfully bringing three-color feature production to the screen and Nelson Eddy. The screenplay, by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell, a contemporary Broadway production of the 1913 Victor Herbert operetta is the setting for another pair of sweethearts, the stars of the show. The movie was MGM's first feature-length color film, and the Technicolor Company received a special Academy Award for ...its contributions in successfully bringing three-color feature production to the screen

Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane, are celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary and are tired of constantly working and want a vacation away from Broadway. Felix Lehman, the producer of the show, is worried that Gwen and Ernest are planning to leave the show to go to Hollywood and work for Norman Trumpett, who has been telling them how wonderful it is working in Hollywood. Ernest sends Gwen a love note, something he has done during every performance, and suggests that they meet after the show in their "special place." Felix tells them he has planned a huge anniversary party for them, they go to the party, then discover that the party is really a radio broadcast. Gwen and Ernest, are fed up and decide to take Trumpett up on his offer. Not wanting to loose them, Leon Kronk, comes up with an idea to split the couple and make Hollywood not want them. Will he be successful in splitting up the young couple?

I saw the movie, Sweethearts, for the first time on TCM the other day. I thought the film was quite beautiful and interesting. I had the feeling I was taking a glimpse back in time..
Click to view movie trailer Sweethearts(1938).

Florence Rice, became an actress during the early 1930s and after several Broadway roles, moved on to to Hollywood. Rice was cast as the reliable girlfriend in several MGM films. Florance Rice, became popular in several screen pairings with Robert Young. Her best known performance was in the film, Double Wedding (1937), in which she was billed third in the cast credits behind William Powell and Myrna Loy, Sweethearts (1938) with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and The Marx Brothers film At The Circus (1939). During the 1940s her roles decreased and in 1947, until she retired.

2 comments:

montyJuly 4, 2010 at 4:14 AM
Awesome post Dawn. It's always cool to learn about someone new like Florence Rice. Great job as usual.
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DawnJuly 6, 2010 at 7:53 AM
Monty, Thank you.
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Bob Fosse

Was a musical theater choreographer and director, screenwriter and film director. He won an eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of Cabaret. He was identified with his third wife, Gwen Verdon. She was both the dancer/collaborator who he choreographed much of his work and, together with dancer/choreographer Ann Reinking, a guardian of the Fosse legacy after his death. Fosse is considered to be one the most influential coreographers of the 20th Century.

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After rising to fame as a singer in her home state of Oregon, Powell was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer while still in her teens. Once there, the studio utilized her vocal, dancing and acting talents, casting her in such musicals as Royal Wedding, with Fred Astaire, A Date with Judy, with friend Elizabeth Taylor and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, with Howard Keel. In the late 1950s, her film career slowed, only to be replaced with a busy theater and television career.Click picture to enter websight.

Jeanette MacDonald

Singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (Love Me Tonight, The Merry Widow) and Nelson Eddy (Naughty Marietta, Rose-Marie, and Maytime). During the 1930s and 1940s she starred in 29 feature films, four nominated for Best Picture Oscars (The Love Parade, One Hour With You, Naughty Marietta and San Francisco), and recorded extensively, earning three gold records. She later appeared in grand opera, concerts, radio, and television. MacDonald was one of most influential sopranos of the 20th century. Click picture to view fan website.

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Cab Calloway

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