Naughty Marietta (1935) User Reviews

".....and it is love that rules forevermore."

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 25 September 2005]

Naughty Marietta marked the first teaming of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and what a success it was. MacDonald had broken into films with Paramount pictures which made her a star. She moved to MGM the previous year and had done a fourth film with Maurice Chevalier which was well received. But she and Chevalier did not get along and she wanted no more films with him. She did one with Ramon Novarro and there was no great demand for that team.

Louis B. Mayer decided to team her with operatic baritone Nelson Eddy. Eddy had been signed by MGM and had done what we would now call cameo parts in three films. He even gave Eddy co-star billing in this first featured role.

The results were a box office smash. Jeanette and Nelson looked great on the screen and sang even better. Seven more films followed that paired them. Even today they still have a loyal fan base.

Naughty Marietta had its debut on Broadway in 1910 with music by Victor Herbert and book and lyrics by Rida Johnson Young. It was one of Herbert's biggest hits and the songs are still popular today. Back then the melody was king and what melodies they were.

Of course the book has to be taken with a grain of salt and allowances for the mores of the times. The operetta is set in the New Orleans of Louis XV. One of his royal wards has been promised to wed a Spanish nobleman and she wants none of it. The royal lady exchanges places with her maid who is going to New Orleans as a promised bride for one of the French colonists.

When they're almost there, the ship is attacked by pirates and the promised brides among them Jeanette MacDonald are taken ashore. But they are rescued by an intrepid band of frontiersman led by Nelson Eddy who sing even better than they fight. They're mercenaries in the service of the Territorial Governor of Louisiana.

As Jeanette put it in the beginning of the film, she wants to marry for love and she couldn't love any of those powderpuff courtiers that inhabit Versailles.

Watching my VHS of Naughty Marietta today it was interesting to see a portrayal of New Orleans society in 1765 and then seeing New Orleans try to dry out from another hurricane. New Orleans was and is one valuable piece of real estate on this continent, located at the mouth of the Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river systems. It changed hands until many times until the Louisiana Purchase got it for the USA.

Nelson and Jeanette have a rough go of it as they always do in their films. But a few songs and love conquers all.

Being this was their first film, Jeanette and Nelson got to sing their first duet which was Ah Sweet Mystery of Life. A really fabulous melody and lyric from a golden age of song writing. One of the great love songs ever written. Naughty Marietta should be seen for that alone.

Charm, passion, and lots of singing!

[AmyLouise · 8/10 · 16 March 2006]

Naughty Marietta has earned it place in film history for being the first film to pair the singing duo of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, but it's also a fine example of its particular genre.

A typical variant on the boy-meets-girl theme, this film has a French princess running away from the court of Versailles to the newly- colonized Louisiana, where she meets and falls in love with a mercenary soldier who sings as well he fights. There is an excellent supporting cast including Frank Morgan and Elsa Lanchester, but it is above all a vehicle for the singing talent of Eddy and MacDonald. The script is amusing and at times quite sophisticated and the pair handle it well (MacDonald is a bit ahead of Eddy here, but he makes up for that with his glorious baritone voice). The final duet, Ah Sweet Mystery of Life is one of the great vocal duets in cinema musical history, and only slightly less orgasmic than the "Czaritza" duet in Maytime.

Obviously a vehicle for fans of the Singing Sweethearts, but the film's production values are good, and it should be interesting viewing for any student of cinema's Golden Age.

Recommended, but only for fans of Nelson and Jeanette...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 7 January 2007]

If old-fashioned operettas with lots of full-bodied singing and coy charm aren't your idea of entertainment, then steer clear of NAUGHTY MARIETTA--which, frankly, was somewhat of a museum piece even when first released in '35, belonging, as it did, to a style of musical theater that had long passed.

But back then, NELSON EDDY and JEANETTE MacDONALD were a hot singing duo, and MGM would soon be casting them in film after film, based usually on hoary old operetta-type stories. Unless today's musical fans have a taste for this kind of singing, they're likely to find the film totally unbearable.

I can still succumb to the charm of this kind of story and to these singers, for Nelson's baritone is one of the best you're ever likely to hear on screen--only Howard Keel and Gordon MacRae come close to approximating it. As for the story, it has to be taken with a grain of salt--a simple bit of nonsense about a princess escaping from France and ending up in Louisiana, where she gradually falls in love with a man who helped rescue her from French pirates.

It's a slender tale on which Victor Herbert strung some of his golden melodies, sung to the max by MacDonald and Eddy. As a singer myself (I was in The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Glee Club, a club started by Victor Herbert himself), we sometimes did the Herbert melodies as part of our repertoire.

FRANK MORGAN and ELSA LANCHESTER as the governor and his wife add the required amount of broad humor and the sets and costumes have that lavish MGM look.

Pleasant, if not the most memorable teaming of MacDonald and Eddy.

Wise and witty dialogue

[dref4508 · 30 October 2007]

Only a few of the other comments mention the dialogue of this movie, which I think is superb! The verbal sparring between Marietta and Captain Warrington is a delightful contrast to their soul-mated singing and elevates this film above other musicals of the era. One always suspends disbelief when viewing any film, of any era (come on, you don't think modern films are really "real", do you?), and it may be difficult for some to enter into the mindset of a '30s moviegoer, but with not too much effort even those who say they don't like this type of film, or these actors, or whatever, can find something to enjoy in this film. (Just call it a fantasy, without special effects.) Some of the opening scenes are almost embarrassingly silly, but quite soon the movie hits its stride and the music, humor, and sweep of the story carry you along. As an untrained actor in his first real role (singing cameos don't count), Nelson Eddy does quite well, thank you; I am inclined to think that the oft-repeated comment about his "wooden" acting style may owe more to L. B. Mayer's jealousy (remember what he did to John Gilbert?) than to a true assessment of his skill (which, admittedly, did improve over time). Mayer wanted MacDonald for himself and the obvious attraction between Eddy and MacDonald, coupled with her stinging rebuffs of Mayer's advances, made him no good friend of "the baritone". (Bear in mind, too, that Eddy was not interested in being an actor; he used film to advance his concert career.) I think this is a grand film, almost my favorite of the duos' work. "Maytime" has an edge because I had the good fortune to see it on the big screen when it was re-released in 1962, and I've only seen the others on television. The music in "New Moon" is glorious, and Nelson and Jeanette seem to be having such fun together in "Sweethearts".... All I can say is, if you have the opportunity to see MacDonald/Eddy films on the big screen at a film festival or revival theatre, don't pass it by!

Tramp, tramp, tramp

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 28 May 2011]

Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy had their first teaming in the musical "Naughty Marietta" in 1935. They went on to make "The New Moon," "I Married an Angel," my favorite, "Maytime," and many others. Both performers were operatically trained, Eddy possessing a magnificent high baritone, and MacDonald a coloratura soprano. If her high notes don't have frontal placement and seem to back off, it's still a pretty voice, and of the two, she was the actor as well as being a great beauty.

Though the film uses the Victor Herbert score, it differs in plot from the actual musical. Here, a princess ordered to marry one Don Carlo replaces her maid, Marietta, on a ship that carries women to New Orleans to look for a husband. Right before they arrive, pirates attack the ship and the women are rescued by mercenaries, headed by Richard Worthington (Eddy). With her beauty and obvious education, Marietta sticks out and begins a love-hate relationship with the vain Worthington. Soon, however, a messenger arrives - the King is looking for his escaped princess.

The couple sing "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," while Eddy leads his men in "Tramp, tramp, tramp," and MacDonald entertains with the "Italian Street Song," and "Chansonette" among other solos that each has.

This isn't the greatest MacDonald-Eddy musical, but it was a huge hit and started them off on their partnership. Were they in love in real life? Supposedly they were and never got together because Eddy wouldn't have wanted her to work. But take a look at Gene Raymond. He kind of looks like Nelson Eddy.

music not for me

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 31 July 2023]

French Princess Marie (Jeanette MacDonald) is fun-loving and arranged to marry elderly Spanish duke Don Carlos. She pretends to be one of the King's Daughters and escapes to the New World. Their ship gets pirated. They are rescued by Captain Richard Warrington (Nelson Eddy) and Marie is immediately in love. She would climb to the high society of New Orleans.

A rescue mission is a pretty good starting point. This coupling gets off to a good start. They are never in doubt although the movie tries to generate a few road bumps. It's not the highest of drama. The music style is not for me. I had to fast forward a couple of times. This did win the Oscar for Best Sound as well as a nomination for Best Picture. This is technically good and MacDonald is a good lead. It is not necessarily my taste.

A very well done classic

[dustbunzer · 7/10 · 10 January 2024]

I adore this movie. It is Black & White, which some viewers don't like, but the story is well written, well acted, and has a bit of it all: action, adventure, romance, humor, and music. Frank Morgan is excellent as the Governor of Lousiana in a young New Orleans, and while Elsa Lanchester's role as his wife is a little "over the top" she handles it well. MacEddy have such chemistry on screen it takes the whole move right along. The details in the movie are rather impressive, from the levee in New Orleans to the scenery in the young city. The story starts in France where a princess is being wed off to Don Carlos who is given a place in the French court so the King can get his hands on Marietta (backstory revealed in the movie). She escapes by switching roles with her maid and becoming one of the Casquette Girls. Historically, the Casquette Girls were virtuous young women sent to be wives for the French colonists. The ship is attacked by pirates close to port, and they are rescued by Captain Warrington (Eddy) and his men. The story moves along well from there and the music is excellent. It is one of the less corny movies of the era, and the attention to detail is impressive. I can only imagine how beautiful the costumes were in real color. This is my favorite MacEddy film.

Why Not on DVD??

[bobolink01 · 10/10 · 29 September 2007]

I wish that "Naughty Marietta" and "Sweethearts" and "I Married an Angel" and " and "Maytime" and would be gathered in a 4 disc Tribute set of DVD's. MacDonald and Eddy were well aware that the music in their films was mostly tripe and that the plot lines were thin at best.They were keenly aware of their film's theatricality being in a style that was already passé. But if you watch their faces when they act, ( and it is very good acting!) and see the mutual admiration in their eyes, and understand that it is all performed with tongue in cheek, the films become a lasting delight. My favorites are "Marietta," "Sweethearts" and "Maytime."

"Marietta" is the height of charm. MacDonald is perfection with her bird like trills and rolling "r"s, and shows a very wide display of emotions, including everything from dramatic hand wringing and tears to delightful comedic acting and humor. Eddy matches these moods with considerable skill. He had to be somewhat less flamboyant than MacDonald in order to keep t the movie plausible. The real villain is the plot, but even that could not take away the delight this picture gives to me. ( Frank Morgan is great in it!)

" Sweethearts" is my very favorite of their films. The antiquated plot of the musical stage play was tossed, and a whole new modern story was written for it by Dorothy Parker. Only the songs from the operetta were kept, and were interwoven into the movie within "Great Ziegfeld " like elaborate settings. It was also the first full length 3 strip Technicolor movie made at MGM. Both stars looked wonderful in color, and the absolutely rip roaringly funny story line only pauses for the musical numbers . The songs were acted and sung with such obvious self depreciating humor, that I cannot stop smiling , even now as I am writing this.

"Maytime" is, of course a tragedy, with lovely haunting songs and great scenic beauty. The made for the screen "Opera within the operetta" is the two star's acting zenith. Their delight and passion and friendship for each other in real life shines through the scene, giving it an extraordinary sense of truth. SO, Why not a glorious Boxed set from SONY/ TURNER/ MGM? Please??????

For a VERY select audience only

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 7 March 2006]

This is one of the toughest films to review, as those who LIKE operetta-style Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films will no doubt love the film and watch it. The rest of us, however, probably have little interest in this film style of a by-gone era. So, this is a "self-selecting" film and it's not surprising the ratings are so high for this film---those who DON'T like this style just won't watch it.

Well, I forced myself to try and sit through one--mostly because I adore Hollywood's Golden Age and the films of MacDonald and Eddy are about the only ones I have NOT watched from the 1930s and 40s. While not a huge fan of musicals in general, I have seen quite a few nevertheless--I just dreaded the thought of an operetta musical. After seeing it, I was NOT converted--I still think these films only appeal to a very select group. While TECHNICALLY a good film--with good acting and very high production values--I just can't see this film interesting much of anyone other than the die-hard fans. A great example of this is the ever-present song "At Last Sweet Mystery of Life". This cornball song is HORRIBLE by modern standards and can start the neighborhood dogs howling, but lovers of the genre find it magical. I just can't figure it, but to each his own--you don't have to love EVERY style of film and it certainly isn't hurting me that others find them appealing.

So, if you LOVE this style it will not disappoint and if you don't, try ANY other movie from this era!

Light and happy operetta

[pookieiam · 10/10 · 1 June 2002]

This is truly one of my favorite classics. My grandmother gave it to me when I was five, after she saw my interest in and love of opera and musicals. It is light and romantic with some absolutely lovely duets between McDonald and Eddy. Though not as passionate and dark like the more modern musicals, it is quite charming and worth seeing.

Best Picture Nominee of 1935

[evanston_dad · 5/10 · 5 February 2019]

I gave "Naughty Marietta" a try because I'd never seen a moving pairing Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and I knew what a famous movie pair they were in the 1930s. This one also has the distinction of being one of the Best Picture Academy Award nominees from 1935, so I figured this would be a good one to pick. Hmmmm......not for me. That warbly singing, yuck. The inconsequential story....boring. Why should I care about any of it?.....I didn't.

Did I like anything about it? Yes....Frank Morgan and Elsa Lanchester, who I always like no matter what they're in or what they're doing.

Won the 1935 Oscar given for Sound Recording, which went to the MGM studio sound department under the direction of Douglas Shearer.

Grade: C

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life

[Bucs1960 · 28 March 2002]

Forgive me for loving this movie! It is dated and corny and the acting of Nelson Eddy is sadly lacking BUT when he and Jeanette McDonald break into song, nothing else matters. With the most glorious voices in the movies, these two made it all worthwhile. Both were gorgeous to look at but McDonald was obviously the better actor while Eddy had the classically trained voice. Together they took your breath away. The haunting "Sweet Mystery of Life" will bring tears to your eyes. This is by far the best of their series of movies although "Maytime" has some equally beautiful music and is a weeper to boot! Take the time to watch this film, you will not be disappointed. It's glorious!!!

The Singing Sweethearts Are United

[kinder-1 · 10/10 · 15 October 2001]

This is the first film that paired Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. It is probably the best and favorite of most fans. The stars look devine, the music is beautiful, and surprisingly, there is a lot humor, and witty playfulness. The chemistry between the two is awesome and quite obvious. The duet of Sweet Mystery of Life was the first of their many sucesses, and Nelson's solo of Neath The Southern Moon is quite sexy for 1935 films. A rare gem.

Great costumes...

[hemisphere65-1 · 3/10 · 6 August 2021]

Nearly unwatchable movie because of the singing style. Horrible, dated operetta; high and low pitched, warbly songs that are intolerable unless you are a fan.

I had never seen a Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy movie and now I realize why that was true. I can't imagine any living person sitting through this and enjoying it.

I know they are Hollywood legends, but I wanted to kill both of them by strangulation!

Awful experience, but Frank Morgan was great.

A flat out GOOD movie!

[travisanot · 9/10 · 2 May 2009]

This is just a flat out good movie! Maybe I should say a GREAT movie. Although I've been a fan over the past few decades of many films and performers of the 1930s--including the amazing dancing team of (who else?) Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers--until yesterday I'd never seen a film featuring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. Then, by chance a couple of weeks ago, I heard some singing by Eddy and started checking his and Jeanette's work on Youtube.

This led me to many scenes and songs on good old Youtube. The singing was, well, fabulous, and the chemistry between the stars was kinetic, but I figured that, outside of the songs themselves, the movies would probably be syrupy sweet and impossibly dated. That seemed to be the buzz, and otherwise, why weren't they more popular with today's audiences. Still, I had to see a whole film after those tantalizing Youtube scenes.

Still, actually finding their films isn't all that easy. There is nothing much on Netflix and few videos of any kind seem to be currently in print. Still, I managed to track down and buy a DVD of 'Naughty Marietta' from an independent outlet--and was amazed at how good it was, and not just the songs!

It has a compelling plot, a whole variety of settings going up and down the social ladder from posh Louis XV Paris to the bayous of the rugged Louisiana frontier. It also features some appealing comic moments from MGM's team of crack character actors. Frank Morgan (later the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz) particularly stands out as the likably incompetent governor of French colonial New Orleans.

And even in their non-singing scenes, the chemistry between the two stars remains electric. I somehow hadn't realized, at least until my Youtube explorations, that Jeanette MacDonald was drop-dead gorgeous--but she was. She also had a great deal of vivacity and charm-- and, boy, could she sing. Eddy's acting has been criticized, and maybe he didn't have tremendous emotional range, but he does have a real presence on the screen along with that electric connection with Jeanette. And when he sings, his voice acts for him! Moreover, as a singer, he's even better than Jeanette.

All in all, the effect is remarkable and one can see why these movies were so immensely popular in their own time. Moreover, overall, I'd rate the non-musical elements of Naughty Marietta (plot, dialog, characterization, acting, setting, thematic development) as superior to most or all of the non-musical moments of Astaire-Rogers, although their movies are, of course, far better known today. In Astaire-Rogers one is often wishing they'll get through this silly scene of dialog and get to the next dance, but that doesn't happen in Naughty Marietta, where the songs seem to grow organically out of the intriguing dramatic situations.

I'm going to track down more films in the Eddy-MacDonald series. This one certainly far exceeded my expectations!

classic movie

[kodi-7 · 10/10 · 29 December 2005]

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.

One of the great movie musicals of all time.

[motley-1 · 10/10 · 26 October 2001]

This is the movie that introduced the pair who earned the title "America's Sweethearts", Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Their singing was legendary, but this film was much more than just great music - outstanding black and white photography, great supporting cast which included Elsa Lancaster, Frank Morgan, Douglas Dumbrille, Akim Tamiroff, Edward Brophy, and Harold Huber, and included a generous supply of humor to go along with the music. Sixty years later it is still a pleasure to view this film again.

Jeanette and Nelson in Old New Orleans - courtesy of Victor Herbert

[theowinthrop · 10/10 · 25 June 2007]

Popular music changes from one era to another. Opera and operetta were the principle forms of popular music in the first decade of the 20th Century, although there were popular tunes (like "After the Ball Was Over" or "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now") that people would sing. The leading operetta composer in America was Victor Herbert (his closest competitors were "March King" John Philip Sousa, Leo Fall, and Reginald De Koven). Of that group Herbert and Sousa survive to this day, though Herbert's music is usually for concerts (Sousa survives because of his excellent marches). De Koven is recalled only for his greatest operetta, ROBIN HOOD (wherein he has the tune "OH PROMISE ME!")and Fall did some once favorite musicals like THE DOLLAR PRINCESS and THE PRINCE OF PILSEN. Later Rudolf Friml and Sigmund Romberg would join this group. Noteworthy for being available but ignored was the one African-American composer of opera at the time (but only once), Scott Joplin.

By 1935 the popularity of opera and operetta were somewhat on the wane. Popular music (especially tunes from Broadway) were more likely to be heard on radios or on phonographs. Hollywood was also pushing it's own successful music, such as tunes by Harold Arlen at Warner Brothers. Despite it's relative decline operetta still had it's aficionados. In Hollywood Laurel & Hardy did a series of film musicals based on operettas (BABES IN TOYLAND - another Herbert score - and THE BOHEMIAN GIRL, as well as the opera FRA DIAVALO). More important was film studio head Louis B. Meyer, who really liked the operettas of Herbert.

In 1935 Meyer heard that his rivals at Paramount were losing their resident songbird Jeanette MacDonald. She had made several successful films (including LOVE ME TONIGHT) with Maurice Chevalier. It was her third of four films with Chevalier, and they would make one other film together afterward (THE MERRY WIDOW - based on Franz Lehar's Austrian operetta). But MacDonald and Chevalier disliked each other: Chevalier had been rebuffed by her early on when he tried to get her sexual interest (he pinched her behind), and later he felt she was a hypocrite about her high moral standards (she was having an open affair with her future husband Gene Raymond). It's incredible that their four musicals retain their popularity to this day (and that many critics feel they were more effective as a pair than she was with Nelson Eddy).

After THE MERRY WIDOW, MGM put MacDonald in THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE with Ramon Navarro (with a score, including "SHE DIDN'T SAY YES", by Jerome Kern). Although the film did well it was not a world record shaker. Meyer (who, it subsequently turned out, had a personal interest in MacDonald that mirrored what Chevalier had originally wanted) pushed her into NAUGHTY MARIETTA with Nelson Eddy. And the result was musical film history.

NAUGHTY MARIETTA is a costume piece, which seems like some versions of the novel (later opera) MANON LESCAUT by Abbe Prevost. Fortunately it is not as deadly serious. Like that novel, the hero and heroine meet in 18th Century France, and end up in the wilds of the French North American colony of Louisiana. But whereas Manon and her lover are buffeted by fortune to a tragic ending, Marietta and Warrington (Jeanette and Nelson) are able to succeed in coming together at the end and surviving. She is an aristocrat whose debt ridden uncle/guardian (Douglas Dumbrille, of course) is trying to get her to marry a boring Spaniard grandee (Walter Kingsford) for his money. The King of France favors the marriage for diplomatic reasons. Jeanette flees to Louisiana as an indentured servant, and the ship is seized by pirates. But subsequently they are rescued by Eddy and his men.

What follows is the normal slow break-down plot between Nelson and Jeanette. He is attracted to her and vice versa, but he is too cocky, and she is not a pushover. What slowly cements the relationship is their singing, and the numbers (including Herbert's "Italian Street Song" and ending most memorably with "Sweet Mystery of Life") makes their love's success inevitable.

Eddy is not a stiff tree - his acting was not of the calibers of say Paul Muni's or James Cagney's, but he obviously never took himself seriously and enjoyed playing with Jeanette (a feeling that was reciprocated: they became very close friends). Take a look at how he is surprised at her singing. Jeanette had her voice trained (Nelson does not know this) and he starts saying, "But the tones you get out of your throat" with total surprise. He can act if you watch that early sequence.

The supporting cast, including Frank Morgan as the bumbling governor (but good friend of Eddy and MacDonald - look at how he shows his resentment to Dumbrille when the latter shows up), Elsa Lanchester as his wife, Akim Tamiroff as an early type of entertainment entrepreneur, and Harold Huber and Edward Brophy as Eddy's chief assistants are uniformly good. NAUGHTY MARIETTA remains, despite the decline of operetta as a well loved area of music, a wonderful film of the golden age of Hollywood.

For your enjoyment, Nelson and Jeanette !

[itsmits · 10/10 · 2 March 2007]

"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.

A Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald charmer

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 18 August 2013]

If you are familiar with operetta on film and anywhere, you'll know that the story is not going to be its strongest asset. That is the case with Naughty Marietta where the slight and predictable story is the least memorable component about it. Nelson Eddy's acting did mature and became more natural later on, he does have a charm about him here and he is appropriately dashing but there's also the sense of not being entirely in his comfort zone. Naughty Marietta is a lovely film to look at, the costumes and sets are lavish and the photography is skillful and allows you to enjoy the production values properly. The score fits beautifully, and the songs are some of Victor Herbert's best, especially Ah Sweet Mystery of Life, Tramp Tramp Tramp and Neath the Southern Moon. Italian Street Song and Falling in Love with Someone are great too. The dialogue is not only smart and witty but warm-hearted and charming, never too heavy on the sickly sweet sentimental stuff. Naughty Marietta also moves quickly, is choreographed in a spirited and never leaden fashion and solidly directed throughout. Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald work really well together, her acting is better and more natural than his but their chemistry is sweet. They both have beautiful voices too, Eddy in particular has one of the best on-screen voices of its voice type, and their rendition of Ah Sweet Mystery of Life is hauntingly beautiful. You can not go wrong with having Frank Morgan and Elsa Lanchester in supporting roles, both give fine support. All in all, a real charmer, not entirely sure whether it's their best collaboration(that's probably Maytime) but definitely worth the watch. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Wonderful

[lm4983 · 9/10 · 31 December 2003]

I love this movie & have watched it many times. It's funny, sweet and true love triumphs. And the duet on the stairs is one of the most passionate scenes I've ever had the pleasure of seeing in the movies - it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

Saw Nelson Eddy on the stage of the Troy Music Hall, later in films.

[rpolk1-1 · 14 August 2006]

One of the first concerts I ever attended was an appearance of Nelson Eddy singing on the stage of the Troy Music Hall in Troy, New York, my hometown. My older sister was a violinist, and took me to hear him, a fine baritone, wanting to introduce me to classical music for the first time. He had a very appealing voice, as he was a handsome man. His parts were important, for they reflect music and styles of eras of the early twentieth century before and after films. Nelson 2003 is now history, having been a fabulous week-long festival of films, music, lectures, friendship, fun (and glorious food) at the historic Riverside Inn in beautiful Cambridge Springs, PA. Plans are already underway for June 2007. For details, contact Dr. John Marsh ([e-mail]) after January 1, 2007 for exact dates, convention theme, and a hint about guests and activities. You are also invited to attend the dedication of Nelson Eddy Street at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, California. The ceremony will begin at noon in the chapel and conclude with the unveiling of the street sign. There will be entertainment and refreshments. It is hoped that many who knew and heard Nelson, and were important in his life will be able to come.

A Musical Delight

[kitablett · 10/10 · 7 August 2017]

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.

Great

[MegaSuperstar · 9/10 · 6 April 2016]

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.

A Tale of Two Continents

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 3 May 2013]

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.