5--10--35
Los Angeles Examiner
by Louella Parsons
"Nelson Eddy sang his way right into
the hearts of his audience yesterday with the tuneful Victor Herbert song 'I'm Falling In Love With Someone' in Naughty Marietta.
Eddy has a voice that is so thrilling, you couldn't ask for anything more. But the boy has personality too, and he can act.
Naughty Marietta is his picture in that it's his first starring role for MGM and he offers something entirely new in the way
of a screen hero,
Don't take my word for it. Go to the Chinese or Lowe's State theatre and see Naughty Marietta, a
charming, delightful love story laid in the time when the French girls traveled to New Orleans to marry the colonists. Jeanette
MacDonald is the costar with Eddy. No need to speak of the glorious tones of her voice and of her beauty, which are well known
to her fans. If her acting matched her voice, well, she'd be the greatest thing in pictures. But unfortunately, she is not
a great actress.
However, she is appealing as the Princess who joins the French girls to avoid marrying the man of
her uncle's choice, and she sings 'Ah Sweet Mystery of Life' as no one has ever sung it.
Both, she and Eddy are fortunate
to have W.S. Van Dyke to direct the picture, which has all of the Van Dyke touches. In the supporting cast are Frank Morgan,
who plays a typical Morgan role as the governor. and Elsa Lanchester is very funny as the jealous wife. Naughty Marietta,
a light operetta, when all has been said is a genuine treat for those who love good music."
****
Eddy is Film Hit After Year's Wait for Big Chance
It took Nelson Eddy one solid year to get his break in Hollywood. During that year he played a bit in "Student
Tour" and spent the rest of the time hanging around the M-G-M lot where he was under contract. Then, unheralded, he
was cast in "Naughty Marietta" opposite Jeanette MacDonald.
Since the picture has been released the picture industry has been singing the praises of newcomer Eddy.
His singing of the Victor Herbert melodies has created a stir greater than that which attended the Lawrence Tibbett film debut.
W.S. Van Dyke director of "Thin Man", "Trader Horn" and "Forsaking All Others" supervised Eddy's debut and perfected
the system of musical recording which made "One Night of Love" the sensation it was.
While the dialogue of the picture has been brought up to date, the score and story remain as written by Victor
Herbert.
Naughty Marietta
Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy romancing (vocally) to the incomparable melodies of our beloved Victor Herbert!
The plot is of opetetta formula with the beautiful princess running away from an unpleasant marriage of state
to find her true love in forbidden fields and live happily ever after. But, what's a plot, anyhow? Jeanette and
Nelson could sing "Three Blind Mice" and we'd still love it.
On-the-Set Reviews
With her wedding day at hand, Jeanette changes places with her maid, who is being shipped (along with others)
to Louisiana, there to marry a Colonist, sight unseen.
Pirates seize the ship, and it looks like a "fate worse than death" for the runaway princess, until Mister Eddy
and his band of Boy Scouts dash to the rescue (just in the nick of time, too!) and right there is the beginning of a beautiful
friendship.
When Miss MacDonald sings, Director Van Dyke sits back with closed eyes, making the most of every single "mi-ni-ni"
because, he says, when that lady vocalizes a director is de trop as a mustache cup!
We admit that MacDonald is tops; but that Mr. Eddy is no slouch either. This should be a feast for you
music lovers.
