Product Details

• Actors: Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey, Charles Ruggles, Frank Morgan, Lionel Atwill
• Directors: Reinhold Schünzel
• Writers: Charles Bennett, Eric Maschwitz, Jacques Deval, Leon Gordon
• Producers: Lawrence Weingarten
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: February 23, 1995
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303050085
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,931 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A SLEEPER MUSICAL, February 17, 2003

By 

"scotsladdie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balalaika [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A rather underrated curiousity from 1939. Although the picture sumptuously deals with the ambiance of the Russian Revolution of the 191O's, the viewer learns very little about the historical events. As a musical, BALALAIKA refrains from commenting on the struggle between the nobility and the revolutionaries while making it the centre of the action. The irony and nostalgia of royal expatriates working as waiters and tailors is beautifully handled, although the conflict of the drama is never realised. This is not to say that the film is dull. It's richly mounted, excitingly photographed, and full of tender and funny moments. Eddy is in especially good voice and delivers some outstanding numbers. The stunningly exotic Hungarian beauty Ilona Massey proved to be a fascinating soprano with her vivid renditions of TANYA & MAGIC OF YOUR LOVE with Eddy. Why didn't her career fly? Unfortunately, Massey lacked the showmanship and warm personality of Jeanette MacDonald, plus she and Eddy had a decidedly limited chemistry between them. Too bad, because in my opinion, Ilona was one of the most underrated beauties of film. Always a defender of underrated talents in films, if viewers would like to view more of this gorgeous diva's work in three very watchable movies available on video, I would suggest the following: INTERNATIONAL LADY (1941) FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (1943) & HOLIDAY IN MEXICO (1946).

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a good movie., November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Balalaika [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ok...I'm not that fond of old movies...BUT for this...I'll make an exception. First of all, you would never expect to hear a Baritone voice come out of Nelson Eddy..unless you've heard him before. He was also the whale in a disney cartoon. The movie is about the Russian revolution and a prince that falls in love with a Bolshevik whose brother tries to assassinate his father. VERY ROMANTIC! Good story...beautiful voices... especially the Volga Boatman song.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a good movie., November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Balalaika [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ok...I'm not that fond of old movies...BUT for this...I'll make an exception. First of all, you would never expect to hear a Baritone voice come out of Nelson Eddy..unless you've heard him before. He was also the whale in a disney cartoon. The movie is about the Russian revolution and a prince that falls in love with a Bolshevik whose brother tries to assassinate his father. VERY ROMANTIC! Good story...beautiful voices... especially the Volga Boatman song.