calvinnme This one is notable for being MGM's first Technicolor movie. "Sweethearts" won cinematographers Oliver Marsh and Allan Davey special Oscars for their work with color film. MacDonald looks gorgeous--black and white didn't do her justice.The music is pleasant enough, but not memorable. The couple is nauseatingly in love through the first hour, starring in a long running Broadway production - "Sweethearts". Unable to find rest during their six year production, the two are enticed to go to Hollywood instead, being promised lots of breaks between films. The normally feuding creative forces/producers of "Sweethearts" realize that this is the end of the gravy train, so they hatch a plan to keep the two from leaving. Complications ensue.When MacDonald and Eddy aren't singing, the film seems endless. Not even the scenes with animals make this amusing. Eddy is the one who brings off some sight gags--three of them to be exact. Frank Morgan and the rest of the cast are stranded without any funny lines. They just made me groan--and I'm an easy laugher. It's hard to make Frank Morgan unfunny.Trivia I noticed--the opening operetta is on the same set that "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936) used for the "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" number. There is a lengthy end credit explaining that the actors on the screen didn't write the 1913 operetta "Sweethearts". MacDonald has a five minute fashion show and proves she looks good in any outfit, no matter how misguided.If you see this, watch the first thirty minutes and the fashion show for the cinematographers playing with colors, then fast forward between songs.

wes-connors Broadway stars Jeanette MacDonald (as Gwen Marlowe) and Nelson Eddy (as Ernest Lane) are celebrating six years starring in the highly successful operetta "Sweethearts" and have been happily married for six years, also. They are still very much in love, but find it difficult to have off stage time together without family and work related people hanging around. They plan to leave New York for laid-back Hollywood, which prompts a plot to break up Ms. MacDonald and Mr. Eddy. Everyone figures MacDonald and Eddy are worth less apart, and Hollywood will lose interest in pairing them in movies...The public seems to adore them with young new partners Douglas McPhail (as Harvey Horton) and Betty Jaynes (as Una Wilson), but Hollywood doesn't notice..."Sweethearts" caught MacDonald and Eddy cresting on their wave of success. "Photoplay" magazine gave it their "Best Picture" award and audiences lined up to see the musical team in "Oscar"-winning Technicolor. "Quigley Publications" annual box office stars poll reflected three reasons to see "Sweethearts"; for the year 1938, MacDonald was solo star #14, Eddy polled at #19, and the team shared position #22. Supporting actors Frank Morgan (as Felix Lehman) and featured player Ray Bolger (as Hans) photographed well enough in color for "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), in case anyone was wondering...***** Sweethearts (12/22/38) W.S. Van Dyke ~ Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger

mensa522 It was a surprise that "Sweethearts" was MGM's first full-length movie in color and also that Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy were selected for this venture. Since it is based in modern times, 1938, it is much more believable and enjoyable in color. I just watched this film on Turner Classic Movies and enjoyed the story and each scene as it unfolded. She could have been a classic opera diva with her talent and good stage presence but instead she chose to make films that are recorded for us and posterity to enjoy! "Sweethearts" is a fun film to watch with music from a bygone era that will not be duplicated in this present age of reality, action films.

kinder-1 Sweethearts was the first color film for Nelson & Jeanette, and they, and the film are quite beautiful.They portray a married couple, appearing in musical comedy. This shows Nelson at his most playful--the "Pretty as A Picture" duet was so personal, I thought I was privy to a private moment between them. Too bad, MGM never took advantage of Nelson's self depreciating talent, but this film is most interesting, because it gives us a fascinating glimpse of what might have been.