The New Moon

Director: Robert Z. Leonard Robert Z. Leonard

Overview

Previously filmed in 1930 with Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore, the robust Sigmund Romberg operetta New Moon was given another airing in 1940 as Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald vehicle. Set in 18th century Louisiana, the story concerns the relationship between haughty plantation owner Marianne de Beaumanoir (MacDonald) and her handsome bondservant Charles (Eddy). Actually a French nobleman in disguise, Charles leads his fellow bondsman in revolt, commandeering a ship and heading out to sea. He ends up capturing a vessel carrying Marianne and a cargo of mail-order brides. Though the bondsmen and the brides get along just fine, the romance between Marianne and Charles is noticeably strained, but the French Revolution comes along to solve everyone's problems. The soaring Romberg musical score includes such favorites as "One Kiss," "Stout-Hearted Men" and "Lover Come Back to Me," all performed con brio by the stars. Comedian Buster Keaton, whose supporting role was cut from the final release print of New Moon, can still be glimpsed among the bondsmen.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/18/2012
UPC:	0883316604502
Original Release:	1940
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	All
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeanette MacDonald	Marianne de Beaumanoir
Nelson Eddy	Charles, Duc de Villiers
Mary Boland	Valerie de Rossac
George Zucco	Vicomte de Ribaud
H.B. Warner	Father Michel
Dick Purcell	Alexander
Stanley Fields	Tambour
Bunty Cutler	Julie the Maid
Grant Mitchell	Governor of New Orleans
Ray Walker	Coco
John Miljan	Pierre Brugnon, Overseer
Ivan Simpson	Guizot
George Irving	Ship Captain
Edwin Maxwell	Capt. de Jean
Paul E. Burns	Guard on Ship
Trevor Bardette	Foulette
Leroy Mason	Grant
William Tannen	Pierre
Cecil Cunningham	Governor's Wife
Claude King	Mons. Dubois
Rafael Storm	De Piron
Winifred Harris	Lady
Buster Keaton	Prisoner "LuLu"
Robert Warwick	Commissar
Sarah Edwards	Marquise della Rosa
George Lloyd	Quartermaster
Gayne Whitman	Mate
Jean Fenwick	Woman
George Magrill	Guard
Christian J. Frank	Bondsman
Arthur Belasco	Bondsman
Edward Hearn	Bondsman
Nick Copeland	Bondsman
Gino Corrado	Bondsman
Fred Graham	Bondsman
Ralph Dunn	Bondsman
Harry Strang	Bondsman
Ray Teal	Bondsman
Ted Oliver	Bondsman
Frank Remsden	Man
Ed O'Neill	Lookout
Warren Rock	Mate
Jewell Jordan	Woman
Joe Yule	Maurice
Max Marx	Officer
Stephen Chase	Citizen
Jack Perrin	Officer
Claire Rochelle	Drunken Girl
Frank Elliott	Guest
Kenneth Gibson	Guest
Victor Kendall	Guest
Gerald Fielding	Guest
Bea Nigro	Guest
Hillary Brooke	Guest
Dorothy Granger	Fat Bridesmaid
June Gittelson	Madeline
David Alison	Troubadour
Joe Dominguez	Wounded Bondsman
Florence Shirley	Guest
Forbes Murray	Commandant

Technical Credits

Robert Arthur

Jacques Deval

Laurence Schwab

Frank Mandel

Robert Z. Leonard	Director,Producer
Robert Arthur	Screenwriter
Jacques Deval	Screenwriter
Laurence Schwab	Screenwriter
Frank Mandel	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

New Moon is one of operetta's most popular warhorses; if this filmization of the material (which takes substantial liberties with the source) is not a great film, it does at least offer a half-dozen or so of Sigmund Romberg's most glorious melodies, delivered by two of the screen's finest legit voices. Indeed, New Moon is best viewed with the ears, rather than the eyes, for when Nelson Eddy's baritone is ripping through "Stout Hearted Men" or Jeanette MacDonald is soaring through "One Kiss," the viewer can close his or her eyes and believe that all is well. Unfortunately, there are long stretches of dialogue that tax the audience's patience. Moreover, even during the songs, there is Eddy's fairly bland performance with which to deal. At least Eddy is not quite so wooden as in other films; however, he's also clearly neither the ladykiller nor the revolutionary that the character is reputed to be. MacDonald comes off better, although, by this point in her career, she has totally lost the enjoyable hint of self-mockery that informed her very early performances. (Fortunately, there's Mary Boland to bring a modicum of levity to the proceedings.) New Moon does have some assets beyond the score -- such as an excellent storm-at-sea sequence -- but it's the musical moments that really make this one.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler