Naughty Marietta

1935 "Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy together for the first time!"
Naughty Marietta
6.5| 1h43m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 29 March 1935 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

A French princess flees an arranged marriage and sails for New Orleans, where she is rescued from pirates by a dashing mercenary.

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kitablett What can one say about Jeanette and Nelson that hasn't already been said. They harmonized so beautifully that anyone that has ever heard them knows what I mean.Their very first movie together is a sheer delight and has not aged a jot. Beautiful photography in monochrome and Jeanette has never looked more lovely.The music by Victor Herbert is just wonderful and shows what real music was like , unlike some of the rubbish that's written today. In fact, anyone who likes good music will just love it. Their duet near the end of the movie to "Ah !, Sweet Mystery of Life" is downright moving and their voices are just out of this world.I may be biased ,liking operetta,but I think that, even if one isn't all that fussy on it,they would still love this movie. Good story too with plenty of humour as well as drama and the audio, for the age of this film, is just perfect especially when they sing. Stalwart comic actor Frank Morgan is on hand in the supporting role, as well as Douglas Dumbrille and Elsa Lanchester. It was actually Nelson's first starring film and he makes an impressive hero and, even though people have said how wooden his acting was, it just seems right for Jeanette's glowing personality. To say that "they just don't make them like this anymore" would be an understatement.Perhaps it seems corny and sentimental compared to today's fare, but I'd prefer it any day of the week to escape reality for two hours away from the world of today. Just relax and drink it in.
mark.waltz During the return of the Bourbons years after the end of the French Revolution and the brief reign of Emperor Napoleon, noblewoman Jeanette MacDonald escaped from an arranged marriage by her domineering uncle (Douglas Dumbrille) by posing as a scullery maid and heading to New Orleans where settlers are awaiting the arrival of potential brides they've never met. There, she waives off the many admirers while sparring with Nelson Eddy, a law enforcement official who rescued her and the other ladies on her ship after they were overtaken by pirates. Of course, sparring on film ultimately leads to love, and in their first film together, MacDonald and Eddy are a romantic duo who became more famous than MacDonald was with her first partner, Maurice Chevalier. The result is a fun, sometimes camp, pairing that isn't as classic as their next ("Rose Marie") or as romantic as their third ("Maytime", my personal favorite of their many teamings), but is lavish and equally memorable in its own right.Today, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" is best known to film audiences for its spoofing in "Young Frankenstein" (in fact, the sequences of the song in the two films sometimes seems like it could be taking place at the same time, even if one is in Europe and the other the newly civilized North America), and its other romantic song, "For I'm Falling in Love With Someone" was also utilized in the Broadway version of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Elsa Lanchaster, who ironically played "The Bride of Frankenstein" the very same year, is very funny as Governor Frank Morgan's initially suspicious wife, dressed to the nines but complete with cockney vocals, lightening up the minute she finds out that MacDonald is descended from European royalty. Morgan as usual is typecast as a flibbertigibbet, befuddled by everything going on around him. Also very funny is a sequence of when the women first arrive in New Orleans where a desperate local searches through the various women there as if he were shopping for steak at his local butcher. In their initial pairings, MacDonald and Eddy had tremendous chemistry, and you can see why they were so popular. His blandness in acting wouldn't be obvious until their later pairings. MacDonald is an expert comic, truly funny in a scene where she must disguise herself as the unclassy scullery maid, eating bread voraciously like a Parisian peasant starving under the cruelty of her own ancestors. The ending is the epitome of movie operetta camp, turning its constantly repeated love song into a march that may have you shedding tears in laughter.
itsmits "Naughty Marietta" is acknowledged to be the initial memorable pairing of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in the still popular field of operetta and light opera.The terrible oppression of the Depression decade was relieved by the happy smiling Shirley Temple, the Dick Powell/Busby Berkeley musicals, and the screwball comedies of Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, William Powell, Rosalind Russell, Carole Lombard, et al.But the happy pairing of Nelson and Jeanette with their glorious duets and individual performances of the music of Victor Herbert, Rudolph Friml and Sigmund Romberg appealed to the many who found much solace in the sound of two balanced voices joined in melodic songs. Jeanette MacDonald had already made many musicals with Maurice Chevalier and Ramon Navarro but the music of Victor Herbert seemed to afford the opportunity for her to display her particular talents to advantage.While still a princess in Europe, she has a chance to sing the lilting "Chansonette". And as the boat leaves France for the new world, "Prayer" includes strains of the popular "Yesterthoughts". In the new world, Nelson Eddy has an opportunity to introduce himself with the famous "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" rouser. Later, around the campfire, he does a marvelous job with "The Owl and the Polecat". Two lovely ballads that Victor Herbert provided are also included. " 'Neath the Southern Moon" and "I'm Falling in Love With Someone". Jeanette also has an opportunity to shine with the "Italian Street Song".But, of course, the song that everyone remembers is "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" which develops over the life of the picture from the beginning scenes with Jeanette's teacher in Paris to the final scenes in the New World when it becomes a soaring duet.If operetta or light opera music is not your cup of tea, this movie may not have much appeal for you. Admittedly, this is the music of a century ago. But there are many movie viewers who do savor this type of music and for them, "Naughty Marietta" is a real treat. It even has delightful moments of comedy with Frank Morgan,Elsa Lanchester and Edward Brophy.Both for insight into film history, music history and just plain entertainment, this movie is an enjoyable diversion. An hour and a half or so in today's busy world is not too much to expend for a bit of nostalgia. If you do discover a 'new world' , there are many other treats awaiting you. "Naughty Marietta" was only the first in a long series of films such as Rose Marie"; "New Moon" "Maytime"; "Girl of the Golden West"; etc.
kodi-7 Naughty Marietta and Rose Marie are two of the best films ever made. Their plot is similar, but both have great songs, scenery, and costumes. I never tired of watching these two movies. I wish they would come out in digitally remastered dvds.Naughty Marietta has a slow beginning that shows her in tune with the common man, although she is a princess. Not wanting to marry the man chosen for her, she runs to America. Rescued from pirates by Nelson Eddie, she ends up in New Orleans. Not wishing to marry, she works in a marianette theater until her uncle comes from France to get her. Nelson Eddie rescues her and they flee into the wilderness.