Happy Birthday: Jeanette Mac Donald!

Personal Quote:

“I have no inhibitions about smoking or drinking, but I think too much of my voice to place it in jeopardy. I have spent many good years in training and cultivating it, and I would be foolish to do anything which might impair or ruin it.”

Love Me Tonight (1932).

Love Me Tonight(1932). Produced and directed by Rouben Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart. Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Charles Ruggles and Myrna Loy.



The story is about a Parisian tailor named Maurice Courtelin and a family of aristocrats, Viscount Gilbert de Varèze, who owes Maurice a large amount of money for his work. Gilbert's uncle Count de Savignac, his niece Valentine and his widowed 22-year-old daughter, Princess Jeanette. De Savignac has been unable to find Jeanette a suitable new husband.



The Viscount's unpaid tailoring bills are beginning to mount up, so Maurice decides to travel to de Savignac's castle to collect his money. On the way, he has a confrontation with Princess Jeanette, where he professes his love for her, but she is not interested in him.

When Maurice arrives at the castle, Gilbert introduces him as "Baron Courtelin" in to hide his identity from the Count. Maurice is suspicious at first, but changes his mind after he sees Jeanette. While staying at the castle, he catches the eye of Valentine, but his heart belong to Jeanette.

Soon, the Duke d'Artelines finds out that Maurice, has been lying about who he is, but the Viscount says that Maurice is a royal who is traveling under another name for security reasons. Jeanette, begins to fall for Maurice's charms.

When Maurice and Jeanette, are caught alone with Jeanette partially undressed. Maurice explains that he is redesigning Jeanette's riding outfit, and he proves this by successfully altering it. Now, he is forced to reveal his true identity.

Shocked, Jeanette runs to her room now that she knows that he is a commoner and Maurice decides to leave. Will Jeanette, finally realize her mistake and find Maurice?

One of the most wonderful musicals ever made. Awesome, cinematography, a beautiful score by Rodgers and Hart. I loved the opening, with the sounds of a city coming to life,
Fun Fact:

Among the deletions in the film's 1949 reissue was Myrna Loy's portion of the "Mimi" reprise. In the Production Code era, Miss Loy's negligee was deemed too revealing.

Soundtracks:

"That's the Song of Paree"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Maurice Chevalier, Marion "Peanuts" Byron, George 'Gabby' Hayes and chorus.



"Isn't It Romantic"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Maurice Chevalier, Bert Roach, Rolfe Sedan, chorus and Jeanette MacDonald

"Lover"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald

"Mimi"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Maurice Chevalier
Sung also by C. Aubrey Smith, Charlie Butterworh, Charles Ruggles, Elizabeth Patterson,
Ethel Griffies and Blanche Friderici

"A Woman Needs Something Like That"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Joseph Cawthorn and Jeanette MacDonald
"Deer Hunt"
Music by Richard Rodgers

"The Poor Apache"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Maurice Chevalier

"Love Me Tonight"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald

"The Son Of A Gun Is Nothing But a Tailor"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by C. Aubrey Smith, Elizabeth Patterson, Ethel Griffies, Blanche Friderici,
Myrna Loy, Robert Greig, Edgar Norton, Cecil Cunningham, Rita Owin and Mel Calish

Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993). She was trained as a dancer. Loy start in films came when Portrait photographer Henry Waxman, had taken several pictures of her, and they were noticed by Rudolph Valentino. He was looking for a leading lady for Cobra, the first independent project he and his wife Natacha Rambova were producing. She tested for the role, which went to Gertrude Olmstead instead, but soon after she was hired as an extra for the film, Pretty Ladies, in which she and fellow newcomer Joan Crawford, were among the chorus girls dangling from a chandelier.

Rambova recommended Loy for a small role opposite Nita Naldi, in the film, What Price Beauty?. Loy's pictures in a fan magazine led to a contract with Warner Bros., where her surname was changed to Loy.

Loy's, silent film roles were mainly those of vamps and femme fatales and she performed many times as a Asian or Eurasian background. She also performed in musicals: The Jazz Singer, The Show of Shows, The Bride of the Regiment, and Under A Texas Moon. Soon, she became associated with musical roles.

The Firefly(1937).

The Firefly(1937) . Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Allan Jones. The film is an adaptation of the operetta of the same name by composer Rudolf Friml and librettist Otto A.  The film used almost all of the music from the operetta but  added a new song, "The Donkey Serenade", which became popular, as was one of the Friml songs, "Giannina Mia".

Spy Nina Maria Azara, worked for Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Her mission is to seduce French Officers, to learn what Napolean's plans are. She is sent to Bayonne, France to learn military secrets. She meets, Don Diego while performing at a club. Unknown to her, Don Diego is actually Captain Andre, who is sent to Spain to spy on her. While in France, Nina discovers Diego's true identity, only after she has fallen in love with him. Nina Maria returns to Spain and goes into hiding. Napoleon's troops invade Spain and Nina is captured....



I really enjoyed the scenes in the cafe, the “Donkey Serenade” sequence and the moonlit night in the garden.

Jeanette MacDonald: Movies of the 30s.

Jeanette MacDonald, was an singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s: Let's Go Native (1930), is a musical comedy film, directed by Leo McCarey. Best known for its, witty quote: "It was one of the Virgin Islands, but it drifted." Another musical, Monte Carlo(1930), a comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It stars Jeanette MacDonald as Countess Helene Mara. The film is also known for the song "Beyond the Blue Horizon,". The film was called a masterpiece by critics.

In hopes of producing her own films, MacDonald went to United Artists to make The Lottery Bride (1930). MacDonald next signed a three-picture deal with 20th Century Fox. Oh, for a Man! (1930). MacDonald performed as a opera singer who sings Wagner's "Liebestod" and falls for an Irish burglar played by Reginald Denny. Don't Bet on Women (1931) was a non-musical comedy in which playboy Edmund Lowe bets his happily married friend Roland Young that he can seduce Young's wife (MacDonald). Annabelle's Affairs (1931) with MacDonald performed as a New York playgirl who doesn’t recognize her own miner husband, played by Victor MacLaglen, when he turns up 5 years later.

MacDonald left Hollywood in 1931 to perform in a European concert tour. She returned to Paramount the following year for two films with Maurice Chevalier. One Hour with You (1932). Cast: Maurice Chevalier as a Parisian doctor and Jeanette MacDonald as his wife. Chevalier is faithful, much to the surprise of his female patients. But when MacDonald's best friend Genevieve insists on being treated by Dr. Chevalier, it looks that Tobin may succeed where the other ladies failed.. The singing of Maurice Chevalier are the highlight of the film.


Love Me Tonight (1932), considered by many film critics to be the ultimate film musical. Please check out Monty's review located on the side bar.


In 1933 MacDonald left again for Europe and while there, signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her first MGM film was The Cat and the Fiddle (1934). Her co-star was Ramon Novarro. The plot about unmarried lovers living together just barely slipped through the new Production Code guidelines that took effect July 1, 1934.

In The Merry Widow (1934), Maurice Chevalier and MacDonald reunited in the classic 1905 Franz Lehár operetta. The film was highly regarded by operetta fans.


Naughty Marietta(1935), based on the operetta of the same name by Victor Herbert: Jeanette MacDonald stars as a Princess who trades places with her maid Marietta in order to avoid an arranged marriage.
Click to view Naughty Marietta (1935) movie review.




The following year, MacDonald performed in two films:In Rose-Marie (1936).MacDonald played a opera diva who learns her brother (James Stewart) has killed a Mountie and is hiding in the northern woods; Eddy is the Mountie sent to capture him. She and Nelson Eddy sang Rudolf Friml's "Indian Love Call" to each other in the Canadian wilderness (actually filmed at Lake Tahoe). San Francisco (1936) was also directed by W.S. Van Dyke. In this movie of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, MacDonald played a hopeful opera singer opposite Clark Gable as the proprietor of a Barbary Coast gambling joint, and Spencer Tracy plays his best friend.

Maytime (1937), is thought of as one of the best film musicals of the 1930s. "Will You Remember" by Sigmund Romberg brought MacDonald another Gold record.

The Firefly (1937) was MacDonald's first solo-starring film at MGM with her name alone above the title. Rudolf Friml's 1912 stage score was borrowed and a new song, "The Donkey Serenade", added. With real-life Americans rushing to fight in the on going revolution in Spain. Followed by, The Girl of the Golden West (1938). The film had an original score by Sigmund Romberg.


Mayer had promised MacDonald the studio's first Technicolor movie Sweethearts (1938). Sweethearts won the Photoplay Gold Medal Award as Best Picture of the Year. Please check out "Sweethearts" movie review located on sidebar.

MacDonald and Lew Ayres (Young Dr. Kildare) co-starred in Broadway Serenade (1939). They played a musical couple who clash when her career flourishes while his does not. Choreographer Busby Berkeley, added an beautiful dance number for the finale .

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.

Love Me Tonight (1932)

One of the earliest musicals that I have ever seen is the very entertaining film Love Me Tonight that features several notable actors and actresses that would go on and achieve major success. It stars Maurice Chevalier as a Parisian tailor who poses as a nobleman. Jeanette MacDonald as a princess with whom he falls in love with. Also featuring Charles Ruggles as a penniless nobleman with Charles Butterworth and Myrna Loy as members of his family. It is a very engaging musical comedy with all the stars doing excellent work. The songs are top notch too with such classics as Love Me Tonight, Isn't It Romantic, Mimi and Lover. The staging of "Isn't It Romantic?" was revolutionary for its time, combining both singing and film editing, as the song is passed from one singer (or group of singers) to another, all of whom are at different locales. In 1990, Love Me Tonight was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library Of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. And music by Rodgers and Hart. Love Me Tonight is a gorgeous and extremely entertaining musical. Just look at the beautiful photo below of Myrna and Charles.

Three Daring Daughters(1948).

Three Daring Daughters(1948). Director: Fred M. Wilcox. The screenplay was written by Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, Sonya Levien and John Meehan. Cast:Jeanette MacDonald, José Iturbi as Himself, Jane Powell, Edward Arnold, Harry Davenport, Moyna MacGill, Elinor Donahue and Ann E. Todd.

After the graduation ceremony of her eldest daughter, New York fashion magazine editor Louise Rayton Morgan, is placed under the care of Dr. Cannon, for an nervous breakdown. Louise's three daughters, Tess, Alix and Ilka, believe that their mother, is suffering from a broken heart.

Soon after their mother leaves for Cuba on a much needed vacation, Tess, Alix and Ilka pay a visit to their father's employer, Robert Nelson. Wanting to get their father called home from his overseas assignment. Tess wins Nelson's heart by singing a song for him, and he decides to help the girls get their parents back together. While, on board a cruise ship headed for Cuba, Louise falls in love with famous pianist and orchestra conductor José Iturbi. The couple marry as soon as they reach Cuba. A short time later, Louise returns to New York, and is about to tell her daughters her surprise when she learns the girls have a surprise of their own.

Three Daring Daughters, is a cute little movie. It may be a little fluffy, but a perfect film to watch on a hot summer day.

The Musical Rose Marie(1936).

The 1924 Broadway musical Rose Marie has been the basis of three MGM films of the same title. The best-known film adaptation was released in 1936; however, a silent version was released in 1928 and another film was released in 1954. All three versions are set in the Canadian wilderness. Portions of Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart's original score for the Broadway musical were used in the 1936 and 1954 films. The best known film version was the 1936 version, which starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Although the original plot was changed, and most of the songs were dropped, it was a huge success and became MacDonald and Eddy's best-known film. From what I have seen so far, I'm putting this movie on my "gotta see" list of movies.