Sweethearts: The Timeless Love Affair -- On-Screen and Off -- Between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, updated edition (Paperback)

~ Sharon Rich (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Sweethearts" is the true story of one of Hollywood's greatest cover-ups: the love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Known as 'America's Singing Sweethearts' of the 1930s and 40s, they made eight box office hits together for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became the most popular singing team in movie history. Rumor had it that they hated each other off-screen but the truth was that they were madly in love. Interference by studio boss Louis B. Mayer triggered a series of tragic events that caused them to self-destruct their film careers, health and ultimately their lives. The author was a close friend of Jeanette's older sister plus had access to a wealth of unpublished letters and memoirs. This is an updated version of the 1994 edition, including an additional chapter, new information and more photos.

About the Author

Sharon Rich has written five books and edited and written over sixty magazines about 1930s singing stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. She was close friends for many years with Jeanette's older sister Blossom Rock. Along with interviewing hundreds of people, she had access to many collections of private letters, Nelson’s personal scrapbooks, diary entries, FBI files and Jeanette’s unpublished autobiography. She is considered by many to be the leading authority on MacDonald and Eddy in the world. In 1995 she was awarded a Dame of Merit by the Knights of Malta for her contribution to History and Literature. Rich lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Bell Harbour Press (December 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971199817
• ISBN-13: 978-0971199811
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,130 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive Research Portrays an On and Off Screen Romance, November 2, 2005

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Sweethearts will appeal most to those who are already devoted fans of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. The book will also prove to be fascinating reading for those who like to read about doomed romances. I also hope that some young people will read this book and learn important lessons about life and love.

The strength of this book is in Ms. Rich's exhaustive research into the written and oral sources concerning Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy to display their covert relationship. Ms. Rich interviewed more than 200 people who were close to the stars and read many hither-to-unpublished sources to fill in the blanks.

With evidence coming from so many sources, this book is clearly based on fire as well as smoke . . . as opposed to the usual expose by a tabloid newspaper or a dirt-digging author. Ms. Rich also takes a fan's view and does a fine job of describing the artistic parts of the two stars' lives.

Here are the basic facts of the romance as described in the book. Nelson Eddy was blessed with a wonderful voice and good looks while held back by an immature personality. Jeanette MacDonald was an established movie star when she first saw Eddy and was powerfully attracted. Although their initial movie work was fraught with tension, they did finally fall for one another in real life. But the studio didn't want that because it might harm the box office appeal of their successful pictures. Eddy demanded that MacDonald give up her career to be a wife and mother. MacDonald didn't want to because her career was the center of her life. So they didn't marry. On the rebound, MacDonald married a man who reminded her of Eddy . . . but who turned out to be bisexual (with a stronger preference for men). Shocked by finding that out, the marriage didn't really take. Eddy, in his turn, managed to be blackmailed into marrying a woman he didn't like. Escaping these poor marriage choices, MacDonald and Eddy slipped in and out of intimacy for many years . . . including several pregnancies. Eddy and MacDonald weren't willing to go through divorces at the same time . . . although they continually talked about it. So they mostly spent stolen moments together when they were supposed to be doing something else. Their ups and downs were also influenced by Eddy's inclination to be attracted to more than one woman.

Ms. Rich does a fine job of providing biographies of both stars, a history of their film work as well as her love story of their romance. It's a fine, balanced work that I highly recommend to those who find these subjects appealing. You will be especially delighted to read extensive writings by the people involved.

Having said so many nice things about the book, you may be wondering about the four-star rating.

I decided to grade the book down for three reasons . . . none of which may bother you. If these reasons don't bother you, I suggest you think of this as a five-star book . . . as many people do and will.

First, the book contains more detail than I really wanted to know. I would have liked the book better if it was about 30% shorter.

Second, the reproduction quality of the photographs is usually poor. Although I enjoyed seeing the photographs, I found them disappointing in most cases because of the printing quality.

Third, the book needed more editing. This is an updated edition, but it contains a lot of typos that any word processing program would have caught. In addition, many of the extensive quotes should have been shortened down to their nub . . . for greater impact.

I have not read any other books about these two stars so I cannot compare the work to what else is available. But due to the extensive research and unique access to many of the witnesses, I find it hard to imagine that a more authentic book exists on this subject.

When you read this book, I also suggest that you arrange to view some of the films that are described in the book. Consider Naughty Marietta and Sweethearts as your choices.

May you and your sweetheart live more happily ever after than Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy did!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Love Story!, June 30, 2005

By	JeanetteEddy (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews

The love affair between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy was one of Hollywood's best kept secrets but now everyone can learn the truth. For some reason many people refuse to believe that Nelson and Jeanette had a real life love affair. I have been a devoted Nelson and Jeanette for many years, I have read all the books, and I do believe they were in love. I'm sure there are some things in this book that aren't accurate but most of the information comes from Jeanette's sister who had no reason to lie. This book provides so many details about their relationship that it would be almost impossible to make it all up. If the stories in this book weren't true then why didn't Jeanette's widow, Gene Raymond, sue the author for slander? I am so glad Sharon Rich decided to write this book. She gets criticized a lot but if you read this book you will see she is just a fan who wants to share their story with the world.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Affair to Remember.....Again and Again, March 13, 2005

By	Mary Stuart - See all my reviews

Without a doubt, this book is fascinating. Well written and worth several reads, my only disappointment was the sadness of their passions being coerced when each married another.

We can only presume that MGM icons feared great financial losses at the box office if the two had married. Their magic on screen, maybe, was threatened if they'd validated their love in private matrimony.

The book is tenderly poignant, a vicarious experience. Each died too young - in their 60s. We appreciate the drama of two talented beautiful people living a fantasy. Only in 1930/1940 Hollywood could it be so compelling.....