Wow...talk about the phrase "either you love 'em or you hate 'em"! Folks either adore the singing of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy or they wonder WHY anyone would want to see their films. I assume the latter is the vast majority, but I have noticed that their fans are VERY vociferous in their support for the duo. In light of this, I must admit up front that I never have been a fan of their films--consider this as you read my review.
The plot is very unusual. It's set in the time period shortly before the French Revolution. Jeanette and Nelson are both on a ship bound for the colony in Louisiana. However, she is traveling as a rich and pampered lady, while Nelson is a prisoner who is being sent as a bond servant. He holds a secret, though, as he arranged to be arrested and deported--though exactly why you'll need to wait and see.
When the two meet on the ship, she mistakenly thinks he's an officer on the ship and there is, naturally, some instant chemistry between them. Later, when she is in her home in the colony, he comes to her room--and she assumes it's because he's pretending to be a servant. However, he really is a servant and it seems like their burgeoning love is not to be.
As a servant, Nelson is perfect. He makes the party Jeanette plans a fabulous evening--so perfect and wonderful that Jeanette is worried--as this makes her care all the more for him. The guests marvel at the party and its immaculate planning--and apparently only one nobleman had ever thrown such a perfect party. Back in France, the Duc de Villiers was apparently that man...and in reality, Nelson IS this Duke! By the end of the evening, Jeanette finds herself kissing her servant--which simply is NOT done--though she doesn't realize that he is of very noble birth (a Duke is second to a Prince in the line for succession). And before the romance can go any further, another ship (a ship of the Duke's) arrives--with supplies for an uprising against royal authority. So, it's time to put a hold on to the snogging--though, of course, there IS time to sing some rousing songs!! Oddly, later Jeanette is on a ship bound for France when it's captured by pirates led by...yup, Nelson Eddy! However, their excursion around the Caribbean is cut short when the pirate ship is caught in a storm and the boat wrecks next to an uncharted island. Will the two would-be lovers survive? Will they somehow find love on a Gilligan's Island-like setting? Tune in and see for yourself.
Overall, it's a mixed bag. While I hated most of the songs (sorry, an operetta isn't my idea of fun), the characters and plot were fun...trivial fun, but fun nonetheless. I couldn't hate the film--though I expected to. What makes this even more unusual is that the film was included in Harry Medved's book "The Fifty Worst Movies of All Time"--a dubious distinction that it truly did not deserve. Sure, the singing is old fashioned an hokey, but Nelson and Jeanette make a nice couple and I was particularly impressed by Eddy's acting--he seemed to have a good role, whereas Jeanette's often called for her to act petulant and moody--not an enviable part to say the least. According to the Duke, she is "...a spoiled and foolish little aristocrat"--as I said, not a particularly enviable role for her as it was rather one-dimensional.
For lovers of the team, the movie (as all theirs) is a 10. For teens and people who hate classic films, a 2. For me, who loves classic films but felt compelled to fast-forward through some of the tedious songs, I think a 5 is fair. Without the songs and a very slight rewrite on Jeanette's character, it would have no doubt scored much higher.
The plot is very unusual. It's set in the time period shortly before the French Revolution. Jeanette and Nelson are both on a ship bound for the colony in Louisiana. However, she is traveling as a rich and pampered lady, while Nelson is a prisoner who is being sent as a bond servant. He holds a secret, though, as he arranged to be arrested and deported--though exactly why you'll need to wait and see.
When the two meet on the ship, she mistakenly thinks he's an officer on the ship and there is, naturally, some instant chemistry between them. Later, when she is in her home in the colony, he comes to her room--and she assumes it's because he's pretending to be a servant. However, he really is a servant and it seems like their burgeoning love is not to be.
As a servant, Nelson is perfect. He makes the party Jeanette plans a fabulous evening--so perfect and wonderful that Jeanette is worried--as this makes her care all the more for him. The guests marvel at the party and its immaculate planning--and apparently only one nobleman had ever thrown such a perfect party. Back in France, the Duc de Villiers was apparently that man...and in reality, Nelson IS this Duke! By the end of the evening, Jeanette finds herself kissing her servant--which simply is NOT done--though she doesn't realize that he is of very noble birth (a Duke is second to a Prince in the line for succession). And before the romance can go any further, another ship (a ship of the Duke's) arrives--with supplies for an uprising against royal authority. So, it's time to put a hold on to the snogging--though, of course, there IS time to sing some rousing songs!! Oddly, later Jeanette is on a ship bound for France when it's captured by pirates led by...yup, Nelson Eddy! However, their excursion around the Caribbean is cut short when the pirate ship is caught in a storm and the boat wrecks next to an uncharted island. Will the two would-be lovers survive? Will they somehow find love on a Gilligan's Island-like setting? Tune in and see for yourself.
Overall, it's a mixed bag. While I hated most of the songs (sorry, an operetta isn't my idea of fun), the characters and plot were fun...trivial fun, but fun nonetheless. I couldn't hate the film--though I expected to. What makes this even more unusual is that the film was included in Harry Medved's book "The Fifty Worst Movies of All Time"--a dubious distinction that it truly did not deserve. Sure, the singing is old fashioned an hokey, but Nelson and Jeanette make a nice couple and I was particularly impressed by Eddy's acting--he seemed to have a good role, whereas Jeanette's often called for her to act petulant and moody--not an enviable part to say the least. According to the Duke, she is "...a spoiled and foolish little aristocrat"--as I said, not a particularly enviable role for her as it was rather one-dimensional.
For lovers of the team, the movie (as all theirs) is a 10. For teens and people who hate classic films, a 2. For me, who loves classic films but felt compelled to fast-forward through some of the tedious songs, I think a 5 is fair. Without the songs and a very slight rewrite on Jeanette's character, it would have no doubt scored much higher.