Product Details

• Actors: Matthew Boulton, Henry Daniell, Roger Drake, Douglass Dumbrille, Billy Gilbert
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: December 11, 1992
• Run Time: 131 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630259331X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,398 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Firefly" lights up the screen, April 7, 2000

By 

Emily K. Stivers "avocet19" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Firefly [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this movie on TCM and absolutely fell in love with it. I have seen most of Jeannette MacDonald's films, and this is by far the best performance - singing, acting, and even dancing - she has ever given. Alan Jones is a refreshing change from Nelson Eddy, and much more talented. The plot is full of love and intrigue (NOT slow as Maltin claims), with MacDonald as a Spanish spy during the Napoleonic wars, and Jones as the aristocratic playboy who falls for her without knowing who she really is. Songs include not only the classic "Donkey Serenade," but also "Gianina Mia," a passionate and beautiful love song. This film is an absolute must-see for any fan of musical operetta.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From an Admitted Allan Jones Nut, October 5, 2005

By 

H. L. Cripe "cooncat3" (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Firefly [VHS] (VHS Tape)

One needs several rating scales to do this video justice. If I were rating it solely on Allan Jones' voice and performance, I'd give it a 5+. Jeannette MacDonald gets a 4 - she probably rates higher but the technology of the time made most women's voices sound shrill and squeaky. As an excellent example of the musical genre of 1930s-1950s operettas it definitely gets a 5. The overall performance gets a 4, and in judging it, one must again do so in the context of the time period in which it was filmed.

All ratings aside, one must admit that most operettas of the years mentioned were pretty superficial in plot, with the standard fearless hero, dimwit heroine, and sneering villian -- who usually had the best part and was the only real actor in the cast. "Firefly" gives us a treat in that our heroine Jeannette is far more spunky and sparky than most of her ilk - she's a Spanish spy helping thwart the French invasion of Spain during the Napoleonic wars. Allan Jones is the French agent sent to trap her. After a series of encounters, betrayals, battles and general dashing about, comes the happy ending - this is, after all, an operetta.

The filming and special effects are again typical of the period, and thus must be considered as good as the technology was capable of producing. It's obvious to us today that most of the time Allan Jones was singing "The Donkey Serenade" he wasn't really riding a horse but for that time period the special effects people faked it pretty well.

I can't say enough for the music in this film - Rudoph Friml's score is absolutely gorgeous, and further enhanced by the singers and the sumptious orchestal background. If you really like good music performed by equally good musicians, you can't go wrong with this film. Ignore the historical inaccuracies, goofy plot, somewhat hammy performances, and inept effects - just relax, put your feet up, pet the cat, let yourself sink into that glorious music, and enjoy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie!, November 18, 2008

By 

Ann Louise Ramsey "Me, the Tree" (New Castle, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Firefly [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of my favorite Jeanette MacDonald movies. Even without Nelson Eddy, this movie is full of wonderful music by Jeanette and Allan Jones. Highly recommended!