Customer Reviews

Naughty Marietta (1935)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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!

In 18th century France, French Princess Marie de Namours de la Bonfain, an orphan who lives with her uncle, refuses to marry Spanish grandee Don Carlos de Braganza. Although the marriage has been sanctioned by King Louis XV, Marie doesn't care a whit. She wants a man who is "tall and strong in the wind"...The first and one of the most enjoyable of all 8 MacDonald-Nelson musicals, this was originally intended as a vehicle for Marion Davies. Considered one of the top ten pictures of 1935, this opulent M-G-M production was nominated an AA for Best Picture & it won Best Sound Recording AA (Douglas Shearer, brother of Norma). The cast is excellent and full of colourful character players: Elsa Lanchester, Frank Morgan & Marjorie Main among them. The exquisite score includes: ITALIAN STREET SONG, TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, AH, SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE (Victor Herbert, naturally). A beautiful MacDonald-Eddy film, this is real gem for their fans!

Ah Sweet Mystery that they just don't make 'em like this anymore! I was never a fan of operatic music before I saw this movie!

But the combination of MacDonald and Eddy proves irresistable today as it did back in 1935.

Although I cannot understand MacDonald when she sings..(her enunciation and diction) Eddy more than makes up for this flaw because when they sing together it is through his clear and superb baritone that I CAN make out Jeanette's words.

Nevertheless when she is singing "Ah Sweet Mystery of Life" to him and when they combine together it is one of the great moments in cinematic history.

I had never seen a MacDonald/Eddy movie before I saw this one and after this I knew that the love affair of the most famous pair of 'movie sweethearts' was destined for the ages!! Theirs was truly a great love both on and off screen!

And those who said that Eddy couldn't act....well...they were wrong!

I have all of the MacDonald/Eddy films and this ranks among the top three with "Rose Marie" and "Maytime" being the other two! But they're all great! Simply Superb!!

If they had never made another film, though, they would still be famous for "Naughty Marietta".

This was my first 'old' movie and I thought that it was certianly one of the best ones I have seen. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy make the perfect team in this film as they combine their superb talent of singing and comedy. The music in 'Naughty Marietta' is beautiful. Also, the plot is interesting and even a little bit funny.I would definatley reccomend this to anyone, either young or old.

It may be way up there on the cheesy and unrealistic scale, but Naughty Marietta is an awesome movie to watch when you're feeling low. The music is fabulous (Jeanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy have the best voices I have ever heard) and the movie leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling. It's also a movie for all ages. My grandmother loves it, and I (a teenager) do too.

Wonderfully refreshing almost 70 years later, "Naughty Marietta" was the first of eight musicals starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Jeanette glows in the role of a high spirited French princess, driven to escape a planned marriage to an aging nobleman of the king's court. She runs away with a group of maiden ladies on a sea voyage to New Orleans where the women seek husbands. But not our heroine, her spirits are not ready for harnessing. This attracts our swashbuckling hero played by Nelson Eddy, who saves her from surly ugly pirates and the stuffy king himself. Bouncy and well paced, the movie delights with tapestries of song and dialogue that weave a wonderfully predictable story line. When sung and directed by MacDonald/Eddy/Van Dyke, the genre is complete.

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy together for the first time! "Naughty Marietta" is a charming movie for lack of pretentions. Woody Van Dyke's straight but careful style makes everything easy and natural, never stilted. The talented stars have their share, and a very important one, in the success of the film. This talent make us to forgive the excesses like the white wings, because beyond them there is something genuine that is never out of fashion. Eddy would never be so dashing, so attractive again, and Jeanette's Marietta is as lovely as a fairy tale princess, full of joy of living, true and powerful.

This classic piece of cinema literature is fun to study and an absolute must for re-runs. It's the first movie that launched a team of singers that are historical giants of the early screen. The music of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald is stirring, their lines are witty and fresh, and they have chemistry. From costuming to scenery backdrops, to the phenomenal operatic voices, this one is a must see! Naughtie Marietta is sure to delight.