It's one of those musicals where people start singing to each other for no apparent reason. It's one of those films where people talk to each other in rhyming couplets. I love a good old fashioned 1930s musical but this is not Busby Berkeley! If you like pretend fantasy operettas (and possibly opera, which I can't stand either) you'll probably enjoy this because it's beautifully made, perfectly acted but everything I hate.
So why on earth would someone like me watch something I'd know I'd hate?
1. It's made by one of the most innovative and talented directors of the early thirties. If you're expecting a typical Rouben Mamoulian masterpiece, you'll be disappointed.
2. Maurice Chevalier was fantastic in Folies Bergère de Paris - that was a proper film, a fun farcical romantic comedy. If you're expecting something similar, you'll be very disappointed.
3. Jeanette MacDonald is sometimes described as the American Jessie Matthews. Although they both had annoying singing voices, Jessie Matthews was a gorgeous bubbly funny and believable actress whereas Jeanette MacDonald just had the annoying voice. If you're expecting something like EVERGREEN then you'll be disappointed.
If, for some bizarre reason you liked ONE HOUR WITH YOU then ignore me - this is your sort of film. Of its rather unique genre, this is the cream of that (sour) milk but I, as you might have gathered, hated this with every cell of my body and fibre of my soul.
So why on earth would someone like me watch something I'd know I'd hate?
1. It's made by one of the most innovative and talented directors of the early thirties. If you're expecting a typical Rouben Mamoulian masterpiece, you'll be disappointed.
2. Maurice Chevalier was fantastic in Folies Bergère de Paris - that was a proper film, a fun farcical romantic comedy. If you're expecting something similar, you'll be very disappointed.
3. Jeanette MacDonald is sometimes described as the American Jessie Matthews. Although they both had annoying singing voices, Jessie Matthews was a gorgeous bubbly funny and believable actress whereas Jeanette MacDonald just had the annoying voice. If you're expecting something like EVERGREEN then you'll be disappointed.
If, for some bizarre reason you liked ONE HOUR WITH YOU then ignore me - this is your sort of film. Of its rather unique genre, this is the cream of that (sour) milk but I, as you might have gathered, hated this with every cell of my body and fibre of my soul.