Naughty Marietta

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Overview

The first of MGM's phenomenally profitable Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy musicals, Naughty Marietta takes several beneficial liberties with the libretto of the original Victor Herbert operetta. MacDonald plays an 18th-century French princess who escapes an arranged marriage by posing as a "cake girl," a mail-order bride sent to the New World to marry a colonist. En route, MacDonald and the other brides are captured by pirates, but are rescued by mercenary Eddy and his roistering companions. To avoid marrying ...
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Overview

The first of MGM's phenomenally profitable Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy musicals, Naughty Marietta takes several beneficial liberties with the libretto of the original Victor Herbert operetta. MacDonald plays an 18th-century French princess who escapes an arranged marriage by posing as a "cake girl," a mail-order bride sent to the New World to marry a colonist. En route, MacDonald and the other brides are captured by pirates, but are rescued by mercenary Eddy and his roistering companions. To avoid marrying some lowly farmer or frontiersman, simon-pure MacDonald intimates that she is a woman with a "history," which makes her attractive to the glitterati of old New Orleans. Only Eddy sees through MacDonald's feigned "naughtiness," and in the end claims her for his own. The most memorable of the Herbert songs retained for the film version of Naughty Marietta was "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," which remained one of Jeanette MacDonald's signature tunes ever afterward.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Naughty Marietta was the first pairing of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, who together defined forever the film operetta, fixing in most people's minds an image of overwrought vocalizing, stiff and/or stuffy acting, ridiculous plots and period settings. Well, Marietta's setting is most definitely period, and no one will ever go to bat for the credibility of its plot, but the first two charges are not really accurate. Granted, Eddy was never the most natural of actors, but he's not the total wooden stick in Marietta that he is in some of his other outings. And MacDonald is far from stuffy here; in some films she did fall into the trap of putting the grande into dame, but here she's aristocratic without being removed. There's a great deal of fun in MacDonald, and she shows it here, helped no doubt by the much better than average dialogue supplied by the screenwriters; there's a snap and a lilt to the dialogue, and nice little insights into the characters. Of course, what makes any operetta is the music, and Victor Herbert's is soaringly glorious. Of course, many people simply don't care for the style, and they won't be able to bear the outsized emotionalism of "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" or the showiness of "Italian Street Song." Those who are tuned in to the style, however, will appreciate the beauty of these two glorious voices lighting into these gorgeous melodies. Throw in a marvelous supporting cast, efficient direction, fine photography and lovely costumes and the result will cause operetta lovers to go into rapture -- and may very well entertain some who are not usually fans of the genre.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 7/13/2011
  • UPC: 883316333501
  • Original Release: 1935
  • Source: Warner Archives
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 3,879

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Jeanette MacDonald Princess Marie de Namours de la Bonfain, "Marietta Fr
Nelson Eddy Capt. Richard Warrington
Frank Morgan Governor Gaspard d'Annard
Elsa Lanchester Mme. d'Annard
Douglas Dumbrille Uncle
Joseph Cawthorn Herr Schuman
Walter Kingsford Don Carlos de Braganza
Jane Barnes
Arthur Belasco
Ed Brady Mercenary Scout
Ralph Brooks
Edward S. Brophy Ezekiel Cramer "Zeke"
William Burress Bouget, Petshop Keeper
Olive Carey Mme. Renavant
Jean Chatburn
Edmund Cobb
Cora Sue Collins Felice
Harry Cording
William Desmond Gendarme Chief
Billy Dooley Marietta's Drunk "Brother"
Mary Doran
Tex Driscoll
Charles Dunbar
Kay English
Patricia Farley
Mary Foy Duenna
Roger Gray Sergeant
Frank S. Hagney
Ben Hall Mama's Boy
Edward Hearn
Harold Huber Abraham "Abe"
Delos Jewkes Priest on Dock
Dr. Edouard Lippe Innkeeper
Walter Long Pirate Leader
Wilfred Lucas Herald at Ball
Marjorie Main
Bob McKenzie Town Crier
Jane Mercer
Louis Mercier Duelist
Greta Meyer Frau Schuman
William Moore Suitor
James C. Morton Barber
Jack Mower Nobleman
Edward Norris Marie's Suitor
Cecilia Parker Julie
Linda Parker Casquette Girl
Richard Powell Herald
Constantine Romanoff Pirate
Henry Roquemore Herald
Helen Shipman Marietta Franini
Akim Tamiroff Rudolpho, Puppet Master
Harry Tenbrook Prospective Groom
Guy Usher Ship's Captain
Technical Credits
W.S. Van Dyke Director
Adrian Costumes/Costume Designer
William H. Daniels Cinematographer
Cedric Gibbons Art Director
Frances Goodrich Screenwriter
Albert Hackett Screenwriter
John Lee Mahin Screenwriter
Blanche Sewell Editor
Hunt Stromberg Producer
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