Product Details

• Actors: Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald
• Format: NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002LE8O4M
• For more information about "Naughty Marietta (1935)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could rate this movie 10 stars!, January 8, 2004

By 

JunQue (Utah, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naughty Marietta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Naughty Marietta, winning the Oscar for Best Sound Recording in 1935, is the crown jewel of the Eddy/MacDonald films, holding a special place in anyone's heart that has ever had the pleasure of seeing it. It is esteemed as one of the best-loved operettas of all time, and that's saying a lot about this film.
Made in 1935, and starring Hollywood's `Singing Sweethearts', Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald put on a grand performance, rapt with romance, drama, and comical antics. No two persons could have played the part better, and with such chemistry.
Jeanette MacDonald shines in her role as the French Princess Marie who runs away incognito as her servant Marietta, to escape her arranged marriage to a Spanish duke. Passing herself off as a casquet girl, she shows herself a kind-hearted woman to the girls around her, who are on a ship bound to New Orleans to become wives to the colonists. Almost at their destination, they run into pirates and all of them are abducted. Captain Warrington (Nelson Eddy) and his mercenary scouts just happen to be in the bayou neighborhood when Marietta calls for help, and he comes to the aid of the women. It is during this part that Eddy sings one of my favorite songs, `The Owl and the Bobcat' (I just love watching him sing!)
Of course, this being Nelson Eddy's movie-starrring debut, there are moments in the movie where he appears a bit stiff, but those moments are few and far between. The very handsome baritone pulled off his performance near to perfection. I just know the little quibbles because of some research I did. I'm now a die-hard fan of their films. It is now one of my favorite films of all time. I hope it becomes one of yours too.
Other performers in the movie: The governor of New Orleans is wonderfully played by Frank Morgan (The Wizard of Oz), who struggles with words and is constantly harangued by his wife. He's a real treat to watch in this movie. Some other comic reliefs are Warrington's two right-hand men, Abraham and Ezekiel.
Well, I won't go into every little nit-picky detail, but just this much should wet anyone's musical appetite. Naughty Marietta won't disappoint anyone who enjoys the classic musicals of the 30's. It's rich with singing and beautiful orchestrations. And let's not forget Victor Herbert's immortal love aria, `Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life', sung by a very teary-eyed, vivacious princess and her love-struck captain at the zenith of the movie.
It is worth the price wherever you buy/rent it. It struck a chord with me. I'm not a big musical fan, but on the other hand, I'm a chump for romance. This film keeps me satisfied in that area! Take some time out of your busy schedule, cuddle up with some popcorn (and maybe some hankies), and enjoy a monumental Eddy/MacDonald film.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This, MacDonald/Eddy's first, was possibly their best., January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Naughty Marietta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Naughty Marietta is my favorite Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy movie. My grandmother used to hum the tunes from this movie to me when I was little, and she encouraged me to watch for all their movies on the re-runs. But they never came. So I went out and bought all of the movies they appeared in together, once they were available on video.

This one if fabulous. Although there are one or two of their movies I have only watched a couple of times because they were not stellar in my opinion, I have viewed this one more than 20 times. I just cannot get enough of the great voices these two have, plus the excellent songs themselves, and the fire that sparks between the two actors during the scenes.

It is my understanding that the opening song in this movie brought the house down with cheers and standing ovations from audiences across the nation. When's the last time you were in a theatre and saw THAT happen?

And could the puppy (actually it took several puppies to film the scene, but the script calls for one) be any cuter, climbing the stairs to try and catch up with Jeanette?

Want more comedy? Focus on actor Frank Morgan (the wizard in "The Wizard of Oz"). His co-stars have a hard time not laughing out loud while watching him. Watch the scene at the punch bowl, and keep an eye on him when he stares down the Princess' uncle (actor Douglas Dumbrille) during "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life." He's priceless.

Could Nelson's voice be any more dynamic than in "'Neath the Southern Moon"? These two don't take off one stitch of clothing, but that is one hot tune ("'Neath the spreading shade of palms, you WILL surrender") for its time.

Jeanette may not have had the most operatic voice of all time, but her voice is the sweetest I have ever heard. Listen to her hold that note in "Italian Street Song." Plus, she has an excellent sense of dramatic timing and facial expression.

If you think those are fake tears in "Sweet Mystery of Life," you might want to read up on the real-life love affair these two shared. Some have called this song the greatest song ever written.

Nelson is a bit tense in the final scene, when he comes to her bedroom to rescue her. I wish they had re-shot that one because he can -- and does -- do a much better job than that. But if you can get past the awkwardness of that one scene, the rest of the movie is a treasure.

Think I'll watch it again tonight

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You don't cook a radish, you eat it alive!", February 27, 2003

By 

CodeMaster Talon (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naughty Marietta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

How I love this movie! It's just great. The first in a long line of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy collaberations, it's easily one of the best, and my personal fave. The music is beautiful, the sets and costumes are lush, and the plot is silly fun.

MacDonald is a runaway French princess who is traveling incognito with a shipload of brides bound for N'Orleans. Eddy is the Mercenary Captain who saves her from a band of cutthroat pirates. Songs include "Neath the Southern Moon", "I'm Falling in Love with Someone", "O Sweet Mystery of Life", and "Zing Zing Zing" among others.

There are several great scenes; Eddy marching though the bayous singing "Tramp Tramp Tramp", MacDonald passing off a random drunk as her "uncle" and of course a great sequence where Jeanette unveils her heretofore hidden talent for singing to Eddy.

The sweet, lightheatered spirit of this movie makes it a great introduction to the Eddy/MacDonald cannon for newcomers. If you like this film be sure to also check out "Rosemarie" (generally considered to be their best film) and "New Moon" (containing my favorite movie line of all time: "Do I LOOK like the kind of girl who would marry a moonstruck beachcomber under a coconut tree!?"). "Naughty Marietta" is a happy little movie that is essential for old-movie buffs or anyone who likes a good romance. Highly recommended!