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.One of seventeen top grossing films of 1937-1938
Well, they gave Nelson “Woody” Van Dyke,
a Romberg-Gershwin Broadway hit, and an extravaganza that would eventually
be filmed over 60 acres of backlot by 27 cameras filming 2,000 extras.
Then they took away Romberg and Gershwin, retained a plot suitable
only for the stage and then cut costs by using old footage from old
rejects.
....Ilona Massey (Brenda)
. One of seventeen top grossing films of 1937=1938
No outdoor location, no Technicolor (it had been
promised) and why didn’t someone shoot the makeup man! “Pops”
Leonard did his best with what the studio deigned to give him but
it was an obvious case of cost-cutting again . However, the “team”
carried on with some help from Romberg, Kahn and Stothart. But Nelson’s
fans didn’t overlook the fact that his scenes were cut up and
slapped haphazardly into the whole. But, oh, what gems abide! The
hightlights of the film include a “Dance With Me “sequence
where Nelson rings Jeanette’s waist with his whip (he practiced
long and hard for that one and
....Walter Pidgeon (Jack)*
...Best Sound Recording (Douglas Shearer) .Special Oscar awarded for Color Cinematography (Oliver Marsh and Allen Davey) .Photoplay Gold Medal Award for Best Picture of the Year
What a prize package! The duo of the century with MGM’s most successful director, a Stothart /Victor Herbert score, a Dorothy Parker/Alan Campbell script, Adrian gowns and even COLOR! And then, add to all that, Nelson in easy-to-wear suits and very easy on the eyes. The fans were happy, the critics were happy, the studio was happy and the “singing sweethearts” were overjoyed! What else can I say! Look for.... ....Florence Rice (Kay)*
Arabella’s notes.... What a change of pace for Nelson! A real, honest-to-goodness
red, white and blue Western! No tight pants, no high starched collars
and, best of all, no fancy dandy makeup! Even the sepia platinum served
to enhance it. Nelson got to carry a gun (of course, he never shot
anyone), rob a stage (but all in good fun), fight the bad guys ( with
his fists, by gosh), and sing every song (oh, he let Virginia Bruce
and Victor McLagen chime in now and then). Nelson loved the part where
he printed the newspaper because he had done some of that on his way
up. But best of all were the songs. I am going to open up all my windows
on the Fourth of July and play “Where Else But Here” to
the whole neighborhood. (Of Look for.... ....Charles Butterworth (Mackerel)*
. Oscar Nomination for....
Although his relationship with Louis B. Mayer was
widely known to be cool at best, Nelson must have been pleased with
these two of L.B.’s European finds....Ilona Massey and Reinhold
Schunzel.While Ilona’s voice never quite matched Jeanette’s
lyric soprano, the very beautiful Hungarian actress carried her role
well. But this was Nelson’s film all the way. His “Song
of the Volga Boatman” in Russian, and the duet from “Carmen”
were faultless. But it was his “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night)
to the Austrians in
.... Charlie Ruggles (Nicki)*
Arabella’s notes.... Yes, I’ve read all the reviews. Critics write
reviews. People watch movies. I am one of the people and I liked this
movie. Okay, so I’m a hopeless romantic. What’s so bad about
that? Yeah, even Nelson called it “Son of Naughty Marietta”
and I almost never disagree with Nelson. Now, while I have to admit
there are a lot of similarities, I really believe this movie has legs
of its own. Forgive me, Nelson, but who can fault the Sigmund Romberg/Oscar
Hammerstein II score? Or Jeanette’s solos, “One Kiss”
and
....Mary Boland (Auntie Valerie de Roussac)
. Oscar Nomination for ....
MGM finally treats our stars to full Technicolor, Adrian gowns, a Noel Coward script and even some Rockettes! But, true to form, the studio assassins descended to shred the script, scrap most of the score and generally commit mayhem. I heard Noel Coward actually cried! But the dynamic duo (or in this case, trio) did wonders with what was left. The remaining Coward music with additions by Gus Kahn, the guiding hand of Herbert Stothart and two perfect voices saved the day and the movie. Nelson had an abbreviated death scene and somewhat less camera footage but his voice was never better. Jeanette struggled with the ingenue role but her character regained maturity and momentum as soon as she got to Vienna. P.S. When Nelson sang “Tokay” I had the irresistable urge to go out and buy some! Look for.... ....George Sanders(Baron von Tranisch)*
.Oscar Nominations for .... ....Best Black and White Cinematography (Karl Freund)
Well, actually, this is “The Guardsman”
disguised as “The Chocolate Soldier”! George Bernard Shaw,
on whose play the original operetta was based, wanted more money than
L.B. Mayer would shell out. So they kept the title and used the old
Lunt and Fontanne vehicle “The Guardsman”. Then they plucked
Rise Stevens out of the Met and, lo and behold, an operetta for Nelson
without Jeanette, who was off doing a movie without Nelson. Now we
have talked about makeup and Nelson’s aversion to it but in this
Look for.... ....Nigel Bruce (Bernard)*
.Arabella’s notes.... Well, here it is...the last film for the “singing
sweethearts”. I guess all good things must Look for.... ....Binnie Barnes (Peggy)*
Oscars....
At Universal, Nelson gets to sing opera while Claude
Rains prowls the underground caverns and scares a lot of people to
death! And he doesn’t look too bad in that black hair and mustache
(although I prefer my favorite baritone naturally blond!). But I resent
the fact that he doesn’t get the girl. In fact, no one gets the
girl for keeps, not even Claude. Susannah Foster lends her tremendous
talent to the role of Christine DuBois, the soprano to Nelson’s
baritone and they really make beautiful music together. With the help
of Raoul the police inspector ( Edgar Barrier),Nelson gets to rescue
her from the evil Look for.... ....Leo Carrillo (Signor Ferretti)
.Arabella’s notes.... Nelson always wanted to do it all and here he proves he really can..in soprano, tenor, baritone and bass...and a 100 voice choir, all of them Nelson! He is every character in this animated fantasy and he also narrates the story while he is doing it. This is a great family treat even though Nelson only does 10 minutes of it. Oh, and if I forgot to mention it, Nelson gets his third death scene...at the hands of a harpoon-carrying opera impresario! Warn the kiddies! Look for the voices of.... ....Dinah Shore
Arabella’s notes... This is Nelson’s last film. Oh, he didn’t
leave us without anything. He went on the radio and on the road to
make our lives better with music. In this movie he is back in the
hands of the Russians and Ilona Massey (not a bad place to be). But
strangely, the Russians have left Russia for Hollywood. Well, not
quite. Hollywood wasn’t there yet. It was really Fort Ross and
at that time it belonged to the Russians. Luckily they used oil lamps
and oil was cheap back then! Nelson plays a watchdog for the American
government who also keeps peace between the Russians, the Indians
and the Mexicans. Sound familiar? But he falls in love with a newly
arrived Russian emigre (Ilona) who is secretly married to a Look for.... ....Elsa Lanchester (Princess Tatiana) |
