The Baritone!

Music
The Sweethearts!

Nelson Eddy is Ernest Lane, a handsome Broadway baritone who is paired with his wife, Gwen, in one of Broadway’s biggest hits now in its sixth year and still packing them in. He writes little love notes to Gwen after every performance while he fights off their manager Kay Jordan’s attempts to keep him from his pipe!

Jeanette MacDonald is Gwen Marlowe, the lovely soprano half of the duo. She has a secret cache of Ernest’s love notes and rereads them when she gets a break. She also sneaks chocolates when Kay isn’t looking. But her biggest problem are the calls she gets every night from her inquisitive family.

Nelson and Jeanette together again!

The Cast!

Florence Rice is Kay Jordan who tries to manage this dynamic duo and accidentally becomes the pawn in a scheme devised by the nervous theater producer.

Florence was born on Valentine’s Day but the year is in some dispute. I am going with 1907 and not 1911 as usually stated. She was the daughter of famous sportswriter/producer Grantland Rice and debuted on Broadway in the George Kaufman production of “June Moon”(1929) and on screen in “Fugitive Lady” (1934). Her film career was less than spectacular and Florence left films in 1943. She married Fred Butler in the 1940s and retired to Hawaii where she died of lung cancer on February 23rd, 1974.

This was Florence’s only Mac/Eddy film.

Ray Bolger is Fred/Hans the dancer who does the “Wooden Shoes” number in the show-within-a-show. His major line of dialogue is in that number…. from the original operetta by Victor Herbert. It is really all that remains of the original Herbert work. “Nanette and I have got a plan/Here’s hoping nothing wrecks it/While you make all the noise you can/Nanette and I will exit.” For more on Ray, turn to the Gallery in this issue where he gets a lot more exposure!

This was Ray’s 2 nd Mac/Eddy film. He was in "Rosalie” in 1937 with Nelson.

Frank Morgan plays the nervous Broadway producer Felix Lehman who fears that his Broadway darlings will desert him for the land of oranges and film stars. He will do anything to keep them.

Frank was born June 1st , 1990 as Francis Philip Wupperman in New York City. He made his Broadway debut in “A Woman Killed With Kindness” (1914) and his film debut in “The Suspect” (1916) splitting his time between stage and silent screen until talkies brought him permanently to Hollywood. Frank died on September 18th, 1949 at the age of 59 just as he was starting “Annie Get Your Gun”. There is more on Frank in Issue #11.

Frank was in 6 other Mac/Eddy films…..”Broadway to Hollywood” in 1933 (with Nelson), “The Cat and the Fiddle” in 1934 (with Jeanette), “Naughty Marietta” in 1935, “Rosalie” in 1937 (with Nelson), “Broadway Serenade” in 1939 (with Jeanette), and “Balalaika” in 1939 (with Nelson).

Reginald Gardiner was given the role of Norman Trumpett, agent extraordinaire, who came from Hollywood intent on snaring Ernest and Gwen for his Hollywood boss. He had them right in the palm of his hand…and then let them fall through his fingers.

Reginald was born William Reginald Gardiner in Wimbleton, England on February 27th, 1903. He made his Broadway debut in “At Home Abroad” (1935) and, a year later, his film debut in “The Lodger”. Gardiner played suave British gentlemen on screen until an injury from a fall forced him to retire in 1965. He died in Westwood, California on July 7th, 1980 from a heart attack. He was 77.

This was the only time Reginald Gardiner was in a Mac/Eddy movie.

Mischa Auer played Leo Kronk, the lyricist for “Sweethearts” and who first proposes the plot to separate Ernest and Gwen long enough to keep them in New York. It works....for a while!

Mischa was born Mischa Ounskowsky in St. Petersburg, Russia on November 17, 1905 and took his stage name from his grandfather, violinist Leopold Auer. Like all the upper class children of post-Bolshevist Russia he was sent to Siberia…to learn Communism. He came to the US in 1920 and, in 1925, made his Broadway debut in ‘The Wild Duck”. His film debut came 2 years later in “Something Always Happens” but his big break was the role of a man who impersonates a gorilla in Gregory LaCava’s “My Man Godfrey”(1936) that earned him an Oscar nod for supporting actor. Mischa Auer died of a heart attack on March 5th, 1967 in Rome, Italy.

This was Mischa’s third Mac/Eddy film. He was in “Paramount on Parade” in 1930 (with Jeanette), and “Student Tour” in 1934 (with Nelson).

Herman Bing shines as blustery Oscar Engel who firmly believes it is his music score that makes the show a hit. He can’t believe that Leo’s lyrics had anything to do with it.

Herman was born on March 30th, 1889 in Frankfurt, Germany and began his career as a circus clown, a vaudeville comedian and a stage actor. He entered German films as an assistant to famous director F. W. Murnau but eventually came to Hollywood as a comedian using his accent as a foil. He made over 120 pictures before his career began to decline. Herman Bing shot himself to death on January 9 th, 1947 in Los Angeles. He was only 57.

.Herman was in 5 other Mac/Eddy films…”The Cat and the Fiddle” in 1934 and “The Merry Widow” in 1934 (both with Jeanette),”Rose Marie” in 1936, “Maytime” in 1937, and “Bittersweet” in 1940.

Allyn Joslyn is Dink Rogers, publicity man for the show who tries to discourage that persistent Hollywood agent to no avail.

Allyn was born in Milford, Pennsylvania on July 21st, 1921 but raised in New York City. He made his stage debut at 17 in “Toot Toot” (1918) but his big break came when director Mervyn Le Roy saw him in the 1936 hit “Boy Meets Girl” and signed him to a contract. Joslyn divided his time between stage and screen but preferred the stage. He passed away on January 21st, 1981 of cardiac failure. He was 79.

. This was the only Mac/Eddy film for the actor.

Gene Lockhart has the role of Gwen’s Uncle Augustus and his off screen wife,
Kathleen Lockhart, plays Ernest’s Aunt Amelia. Both are convinced their side of the family were Broadway’s First Family!

Gene was born on July 18th, 1891 in Ontario, Canada and began his career as a singer. Kathleen was born Kathleen Arthur on August 9th, 1894 in Southsea, Hampshire, England. The Lockharts married in 1924 and also appeared together in the 1938 film version of “A Christmas Carol” as the Cratchits with daughter June playing Belinda Cratchit and Terry Kilburn playing Tiny Tim (see below). Gene died in his sleep of a heart attack on March 31, 1957, Kathleen died February 18th, 1978 after a long illness.

This is the only MacEddy film for the Lockharts.

Lucile Watson played Gwen’s mother who felt her daughter’s success was all because of the family genes!

Lucile was born on May 27th, 1879 in Quebec, Canada. She was convent-educated and trained for the stage at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After playing leads on the Broadway stage, she went to Hollywood in 1934 after talkies came into their own. However, her film debut occurred much earlier in New York with a bit part in the silent film “The Girl With Green Eyes”. Lucile was called the “Queen of Dowagers” because of her many mother roles. She died in New York City on June 24th, 1962 at 83.

This was the only Mac/Eddy film for this actress.

Betty Jaynes and Douglas McPhail are the understudies waiting for their chance In the spotlight. They get it…for a time!

Betty was born in Greenville, Tennessee on February 12, 1921. This was her debut film after playing Mimi in the Chicago Light Opera’s production of “La Boheme”. Betty and Doug were the studio back-ups for Jeanette and Nelson. They were married during the early filming of this movie.

Doug was born in Los Angeles, California on April 16 th, 1914 and was under Jeanette’s wing when he sang in the “Maytime “ chorus. “Born to Dance” (1936) was his debut film. When his career went south, Doug started drinking heavily. Betty divorced him after the studio pressured her into it. Doug attempted suicide twice. He was successful on December 6th, 1944 when he died of poison at the age of 30.

Raymond Walburn played Ernest’s Uncle Orlando who always turned up when his luck was down….and even brought along his hungry friends.

Ray was born in Plymouth, Indiana on September 9 th, 1887. He arrived in California just in time for the 1906 earthquake and then spent 23 years there on stage and in stock companies. After service in WWI he made small parts in silent films pay off until he wangled a 2-year contract with Columbia Pictures in 1934. But he retired from films and went back to Broadway in 1955. Walburn died in New York City on July 26, 1969 at the age of 81.

This was the first MacEddy film for Ray. He was also in “Let Freedom Ring” in 1939 with Nelson.

Fay Holden was Gwen’s dresser and very protective of her charge. She also  was privy to the love notes that Gwen got after a performance.

Fay was born Dorothy Fay Hammerton in Birmingham England on September 26 th, 1895 and was on the British stage at age 9 as a dancer. By the time she made her film debut in Hollywood, she was in her mid-30s and, for her first 2 movies used her stage name Gaby Fay. Fay made 45 films, most notable as Andy’s mother in the “Andy Hardy” series. She died at 79 on June 23rd, 1973 of cancer.

Fay was also in “Bittersweet” in 1940.

Terry Kilburn has the role of Gwen’s pesty kid brother who was obsessed the show’s nightly take.

Terry was born in London on November 25th, 1926. His role as Tiny Tim in MGM’s 1956 “A Christmas Carol” was his most memorable role. He also did quite a few television guest appearances as Terence Kilburn. Terry is now 78.

The Director!

W. S. Van Dyke was one of Jeanette and Nelson’s favorite people. He directed 7 of their pictures (he started “New Moon” but was replaced by Robert Z. Leonard).

William S. Van Dyke II was born on March 22nd, 1889 in San Diego, California. During the 20s he directed westerns but, by the 30s, he had directed many of MGM’s top films. He was known as “One-Shot Woody” for his insistence on not wasting time or money. After serving in the Marines during WWII, “Woody” came home ill with cancer. His last film was “A Journey For Margaret” before he ended his life on February 5 th, 1942. His “kids” sent flowers…white lilies from Jeanette (“From the kid”) and white roses from Nelson (”From the other kid”).

Mac/Eddy movies with Woody; “Naughty Marietta’ (1933), “Rose Marie’ (1936), “San Francisco” (1936 with Jeanette), “Rosalie” (1937 with Nelson), “Bittersweet” (1940), and “Cairo” (1942 with Jeanette).

Scenes from the film!

“They’re doing it again!”

"Hello, Mrs. Lane!"

"Ooh, lovely!

"Hello to you, too, Mr. Lane!"