There was a time when films were made in a different way, where every detail counted and the performances, the direction, the hairstyles, the costumes, the art direction, every part of the picture was important in order to create a part of the history that gave its name to the 7th. art. It was a time when in the screen dreams could come true and Hollywood really knew how to show it. The best craft men, art directors, electricians, sound engineers, musicians, dressmakers... a whole crew was put on service of this productions to make them bigger than life no matter their cost...this is the way some great movies were made. And Naughty Marietta was one of those. The screen play combines perfectly drama, comedy and adventure with songs and romance. And both Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy fit like a glove in their movie characters' personality. They are simply splendid in their roles and have great chemistry in this their first screen appearance together and he is specially good as the rude frontier man who, without even noticing it, experiences a change since the moment he meets her. The rest of the cast is perfect: Frank Morgan is excellent as the governor and his clear diction is perfect ; Elsa Lanchester is also great as his up-nose wife. Even the minor roles as the maid are nicely played. The sets are simply marvelous and all the details carefully placed. *Spoiler* Delightful moment when we see while Marietta (Jeanette MacDonald) sings Ah, sweet mystery of life Warrington (Nelson Eddy) expression changes subtly from delight to gloomy when he realizes she is letting him know she won't be able to see him again and saying goodbye. *End of the spoiler* I believe it was J. MacDonald preferred film and it is fully understandable. The sequence where she takes the ship to the new land disguised as an ordinary maid is funny and brilliant and probably she had a great time filming it. The film is based on a Broadway operetta and although there are minor songs in it delicious Chansonette, powerful Neath the southern moon, charming I'm falling in love with someone and, of course beautiful Ah, sweet mystery of life confers a special shine to this movie. So this is Hollywood at its best: the stuff that dreams are made of.
Review of Naughty Marietta
