Follow the Boys 1944 N/R, 122 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama
Director: A. Edward Sutherland Cast: George Raft, Vera Zorina, Charley Grapewin, Jeanette MacDonald, Regis Toomey, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, W.C. Fields, Gale Sondergaard, Grace McDonald, Charles Butterworth, Ramsay Ames, Elizabeth Patterson, George Macready, Theodore von Eltz
This is Universal Studio's all-star effort to help morale in America during World War II. The story involves a brother-sister-father (George Raft, Jeanette MacDonald, and Charley Grapewin) vaudeville act that moves to Hollywood where Tony (Raft) gains stardom with Gloria Vance (Vera Zorina). When World War II erupts, Tony, whose bad knee keeps him out of the service, organizes an all-star tour to entertain the troops. Dozens of stars are featured in the show, which features songs, dances and comedy skits.
|  | |
Love Me Tonight 1932 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Rouben Mamoulian Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Charles Ruggles, C. Aubrey Smith, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth, Elizabeth Patterson, George "Gabby" Hayes, Blanche Friderici, Joseph Cawthorn, Ethel Griffies, Robert Greig, Bert Roach, Tyler Brooke, Mary Doran
This Rogers and Hart musical is a delight. It is the story of a tailor Maurice Courtelin (Maurice Chevalier) who pretends to be a Baron in order to gain the romantic attentions of the beautiful Princess Jeanette (Jeanette MacDonald). Chevalier sings the classics "Mimi," "Lover," and "Isn't it Romantic."
|  | |
The Love Parade 1929 N/R, 107 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Lupino Lane, Lillian Roth, Edgar Norton, Eugene Pallette, E.H. Calvert, Lionel Belmore, Virginia Bruce, Ben Turpin, Andre Cheron, Carl Stockdale
A fun-loving diplomat (Maurice Chevalier) is recalled to his country, Sylvania, due to his escapades in France. Back home, the Queen's (Jeanette MacDonald) Cabinet demands that she get married. The Queen selects the diplomat, and the fun and music continue. A good early talkie, which received several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Actor, and Director.
|  | |
Maytime 1937 N/R, 132 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Robert Z. Leonard Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, John Barrymore, Herman Bing, Tom Brown, Lynne Carver, Rafaela Ottiano, Paul Porcasi, Sig Ruman, Harry Davenport
An opera star and a poor singer fall in love in Paris, but she marries her mentor. They later reunite as leads in an opera. This is one of the famed singing duo's best films, with wonderful music, but, of course, a weak story. Based on Sigmund Romberg's Broadway musical, all music was changed except one: "Will You Remember (Sweetheart)."
|  | |
The Merry Widow 1934 N/R, 99 min. Genre: Musical aka: The Lady Dances
Director: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Una Merkel, Edward Everett Horton, George Barbier, Herman Bing, Minna Gombell, Sterling Holloway, Donald Meek, Akim Tamiroff
This is a delightful film about an aristocratic–but poor–count (Maurice Chevalier) who woos a wealthy widow (Jeanette MacDonald).
|  | |
Monte Carlo 1930 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Jack Buchanan, Jeanette MacDonald, Zasu Pitts, Claud Allister, Lionel Belmore, Tyler Brooke, John Roche, Albert Conti, Helen Garden, Donald Novis, Billy Bevan, Sidney Bracey, Frances Dee, Rolfe Sedan
Countess Vera von Conti (Jeanette MacDonald) is engaged to Prince Otto von Seibenheim (Claud Allister), but she does not love him. So, just before the scheduled wedding, Vera heads for Monte Carlo where she loses, time after time, at the casinos. She meets a mysterious man (Jack Buchanan) who asks if he may touch her hair for luck. He strokes her hair, but it is Vera's luck that changes, and she asks him to stay by her side. What Vera does not know is that he is actually the very wealthy Count Rudolph Falliere who is posing as a commoner in order to be near Vera. The Count plays his game until he ends up winning her heart, and they live happily ever after. Among the songs MacDonald sings is, "Beyond the Blue Horizon."
|  | |
Naughty Marietta 1935 N/R, 106 min. Genre: Musical
Director: W.S. Van Dyke Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Morgan, Elsa Lanchester, Douglass Dumbrille, Joseph Cawthorn, Cecilia Parker, Walter Kingsford, Akim Tamiroff, Edward Brophy
Victor Herbert's 1910 operetta is brought to the screen and includes the first-time pairing of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. The plot involves a French princess escaping an arranged marriage and fleeing to New Orleans where she meets and falls in love with a dashing mercenary.
|  | |
One Hour with You 1932 N/R, 80 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: George Cukor, Ernst Lubitsch Cast: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Genevieve Tobin, Charles Ruggles, Roland Young, Josephine Dunn, Richard Carle, George Barbier, Barbara Leonard, Charles Judels, Eric Wilton, Donald Novis, Mae Questel
Andre and Colette (Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald) are happily married. Andre, a doctor, has had chances to be unfaithful due to come-on's by his female patients, but when he meets Colette's best friend, Mitzi (Genevieve Tobin), the matrimonial mix-ups begin. Lots of music in this good remake of 1924's "The Marriage Circle," also directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The film received a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
|  | |
Rose-Marie 1936 N/R, 110 min. Genre: Musical aka: Indian Love Call
Director: W.S. Van Dyke Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, James Stewart, Reginald Owen, Alan Mowbray, David Niven, George Regas, Robert Greig, Una O'Connor, Lucien Littlefield
Set in the Canadian Rockies, this story involves the romance of a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, Sergeant Bruce (Nelson Eddy), and the beautiful Marie de Flor (Jeanette MacDonald) who find love despite Marie's criminal brother.
|  | |
San Francisco 1936 N/R, 115 min. Genre: Drama / Musical / Romance
Director: W.S. Van Dyke Cast: Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy, Jack Holt, Ted Healy, Jessie Ralph, Shirley Ross, Edgar Kennedy, Jason Robards Sr., Harold Huber, Margaret Irving, William Ricciardi, Kenneth Harlan, Roger Imhof, Frank Mayo
Blackie Norton (Clark Gable) owns the Paradise beer garden in San Francisco where he hires singer Mary Blake (Jeanette MacDonald) to sing. Romance between Blackie and Mary is in the air, but club patron Jack Burley (Jack Holt) vies for Mary's attentions and offers her a job with the San Francisco Opera. Blackie's friend, Father Mullin (Spencer Tracy), also believes that Mary should be singing somewhere other than at Blackie's bar. Mary is torn between working for Blackie and looking for a classier job. Then, fate steps in when San Francisco is hit by the great 1906 Earthquake, and the film's climax takes place amidst the backdrop of fires breaking out, buildings swaying and collapsing, and the rubble brought on by the disaster. This epic film earned a number of Academy Award nominations (Best Picture, Spencer Tracy for Best Actor, and W.S. Van Dyke for Best Director) but ended up with only one Oscar–Best Sound Recording.
|  | |
That's Entertainment!, Part III 1994 G, 113 min. Genre: Family / Documentary / Musical
Director: Bud Friedgen, Michael J. Sheridan Cast: June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Ann Miller, Esther Williams, Joan McCracken, Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Ray Bolger, Jeanette MacDonald
This third version of "That's Entertainment" is every bit as good as the previous ones. This time, out-takes are included in the film clips of M.G.M. classics from 1929 to 1954.
|  | |
That's Entertainment, Part II 1976 G, 130 min. Genre: Family / Documentary / Musical / Comedy / Drama
Director: Gene Kelly Cast: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Robert Taylor, Kathryn Grayson, Doris Day, Jeanette MacDonald, Greer Garson, Nelson Eddy, Leslie Caron, Ann Miller, Ann Sothern
Hosts Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly introduce classic M.G.M. film clips in this well-made documentary filled with snapshots of film history that include musicals, dramas, and comedies.
|  | |
| 1. Follow the Boys (1944)
2. Love Me Tonight (1932)
3. The Love Parade (1929)
4. Maytime (1937)
5. The Merry Widow (1934) aka: The Lady Dances
6. Monte Carlo (1930)
7. Naughty Marietta (1935)
8. One Hour with You (1932)
9. Rose-Marie (1936) aka: Indian Love Call
10. San Francisco (1936)
11. That's Entertainment!, Part III (1994)
12. That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
In The News
|