Oh, for a Man (1930)

Director:

Hamilton MacFadden

Writers:

Philip Klein (writer)
Lynn Starling (writer)

Release Date:

28 November 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Tagline:

What wouldn't she do..for that man?

Plot:

Carlotta Manson is a young and beautiful opera star who wants some spice in her personal life. She threatens to forsake opera for a wild...

Plot Keywords:

Opera | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Jeanette MacDonald	...	Carlotta Manson
Reginald Denny	...	Barney McGann
Warren Hymer	...	'Pug' Morini
Marjorie White	...	Totsy Franklin
Alison Skipworth	...	Laura
Albert Conti	...	Peck
Bela Lugosi	...	Frescatti
André Cheron	...	Costello
William B. Davidson	...	Kerry Stokes (as William Davidson)
Donald Hall	...	Carlotta's Backstage Admirer
Bodil Rosing	...	Masseuse
Althea Henley	...	June, Dowager's Homely Daughter

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Reel 7 is missing from the only known surviving print, and all copies made therefrom.

Soundtrack:

Im Just Nuts About You

Marrying Your Burglar

It took a long time, but I think I finally found the worst movie Jeanette MacDonald ever made. And to think William Fox actually got her services on loan from Paramount for Oh, For A Man.

What's fascinating here is that there are elements from some really classic films that were later used far better. Jeanette is a bored opera diva who wakes up to find Reginald Denny robbing her home. Just like Greta Garbo in Grand Hotel finding John Barrymore doing the same. And of course they take to each other, especially Jeanette to Denny because he's going to provide something that she hasn't been getting regular in her life.

She even hears him sing a note or two and she finds talent there, I assure you that you won't. Just like Orson Welles finding that operatic talent in Dorothy Comingore in Citizen Kane. In the end though she just settles for sex from Denny.

Naturally though Denny is bored with his life. I can't go any further because that would spoil an unbelievable ending. Both Jeanette and Denny overact outrageously, I'm not sure anyone was directing them. You'll also find Alison Skipworth as her maid and confidante. There's one scene where Denny asks Alison Skipworth if she could imagine herself with Denny. There's a thought to turn over in your mind. Bela Lugosi also has a small role as a music impresario.

Jeanette sings two songs, an aria from Tristan And Isolde and a forgettable ballad, I'm Just Nuts About You. I can't believe she did such classic work at her studio of Paramount and later MGM and such total garbage when being loaned out.