The Baritone and his lady….

…when the leaves turned from

what were they doing?…..

……and where were they doing it?

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy were the most beloved and successful singing team the screen would ever see and their celluloid romances captured the hearts and imagination of America. Off screen, they fell in love, too, but their temperaments, careers, outside circumstances and the wiles of a manipulating studio head interrupted the happy-ever-after.

But, although they foolishly separated and married others, the love they shared never died.

It all began one autumn…

Jeanette had returned from a European concert tour in June with a new MGM contract and went right to work in “The Cat and the Fiddle” with Ramon Novarro. But she wasn’t satisfied. She wanted to do another Ernst Lubitsch film. Studio head Louis B. Mayer had one mantra, ”What Jeanette wants, Jeanette gets”. So he got her “The Merry Widow”, Ernst Lubitsch, and threw in her leading man from “Love Me Tonight” Maurice Chevalier for good measure. But, by October, she was doing both films at once since “ The Cat…” needed last minute polishing. Ramon hadn’t done a musical since “Call of the Flesh” in 1930 and some of his scenes lacked energy. The studio also wanted a new ending. Her long-time beau, Bob Ritchie, was in Europe talent-scouting for MGM but Jeanette was not lacking in handsome Hollywood leading men to squire her around.

Nelson was trying to adapt to his new career. He had signed an MGM contract in June but wasn’t given any work to do. Finally he threatened to pull up stakes and go back to opera! To keep the peace until he found something for the baritone to do, Mayer tossed him a few bones…bit parts in “Dancing Lady” (he had one song”) and “Broadway to Hollywood” (he had one song ..off screen!). Soon Nelson was looking forward to December when his option was up and he could return to singing for a living. His social life had improved since he met Clark Gable on the set of "Dancing Lady" . Clark divided his off-time between hunting and parties and encouraged Nelson to tag along.

Then it happened….

In late autumn while Nelson was in his “idling” mode and strolling around the studio, he heard a lovely soprano voice emanating from one of the sound stages. At closer inspection, Nelson found it came from a ravishing redhead dressed in Victorian costume.

Now Nelson had heard of Jeanette MacDonald but had never seen her. But even without knowing who she was, he knew he wanted to get to know her better. After a few minutes, the lady looked up and there were those who swore that when her eyes met his, the sparks that flew caused lights to dim all over town!

But who are we to say?

Nonetheless, romance was in the air and the next time Jeanette saw L. B. Mayer, she let it be known she wanted Nelson to be her next leading man! "Naughty Marietta" was her next scheduled picture and Allan Jones was slotted to play "Captain Dick". However, Jones was tied up so Mayer reluctantly agreed. It was the beginning of something very big!