The Firefly (1937)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (writer)
Albert Hackett (writer)

Release Date:

5 November 1937 (USA)

Genre:

History | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Jeanette MacDonald Is The Luminous Singing Spy!

Plot:

Nina Maria Azara is the beautiful and alluring singing spy for Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Her mission is to seduce French Officers...

Plot Keywords:

French | Deceit | Historical | Spy | Napoleon Bonaparte

Cast

Jeanette MacDonald	...	Nina Maria Azara
Allan Jones	...	Don Diego
Warren William	...	Colonel de Rouchemont
Billy Gilbert	...	Inn Keeper
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Marquis de Melito (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Henry Daniell	...	General Savary
Leonard Penn	...	Etienne DuBois
Tom Rutherford	...	King Ferdinard (as Tom Rutherfurd)
Belle Mitchell	...	Lola
George Zucco	...	St. Clair, Secret Service Chief
Corbet Morris	...	Duvall (as Corbett Morris)
Matthew Boulton	...	Duke of Wellington
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zeni Vatori	...	Cafe Waiter

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3506)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The song "Donkey Serenade" was not in the original stage production. It was written for the film, but the music was adapted from the song "Chansonette", from the stage version of "The Firefly".

Quotes:

Don Diego: You have one bad habit.
Nina Maria Azara: Oh, yes? What?
Don Diego: You're always saying good-bye.
Nina Maria Azara: Very well then, I won't say good-bye. I'll just go!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in M-G-M Jubilee Overture (1954)

Soundtrack:

DANSE JEANETTE

Luminous Jeanette MacDonald

is exceptional in this OK Napoleonic War film. Anyone who ever thought MacDoanld was just a bland operatic singer needs to see this film. She plays a spy posing as a camp follower. MacDonald has a sexy dance number that is just a knockout. She is as sultry and sexy as any star of her era. MacDonald was a great singer who was also a great actress and comic. She is superb. Starring here with Allan Jones and Warren William, the film is a tad long, but still eminently watchable. Jones and MacDonald introduced the big hit "Donkey Serenade" in this film. Good support from Billy Gilbert, Henry Daniell, Douglas Dumbrille, and George Zucco. Not as snappy as some of her films with Nelson Eddy, but this is Jones' best film aside from the 1936 Show Boat with Irene Dunne. Give this one a watch and marvel at Jeanette MacDonald!