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Title: Naughty Marietta (1935)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Jeanette MacDonald | ... | ||
| Nelson Eddy | ... |
Warrington
|
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| Frank Morgan | ... |
Governor d'Annard
|
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| Elsa Lanchester | ... |
Madame d'Annard
|
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| Douglass Dumbrille | ... |
Uncle
(as Douglas Dumbrille)
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|
 |
Joseph Cawthorn | ... |
Herr Schuman
(as Joseph Cawthorne)
|
|
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Cecilia Parker | ... |
Julie
|
|
|
Walter Kingsford | ... |
Don Carlos
|
|
|
Greta Meyer | ... |
Frau Schuman
|
| Akim Tamiroff | ... |
Rudolpho
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Harold Huber | ... |
Abe
|
|
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Edward Brophy | ... |
Zeke
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
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Zari Elmassian | ... |
Suzette
(voice)
|
Storyline
Princess Marie de Namours de la Bonfain is a beautiful, young, sophisticated French princess of 23, who finds more worth in true love than a title. On the eve of her arranged marriage, to a Spanish-grandee, whom she doesn't love, her maid, Marietta comes to her to say farewell. Marietta is to leave that night on a cargo ship bound for New Orleans where she is to make a new life and find a husband. Princess Marie trades places with Marietta to escape her unwanted marriage and takes on the maid, Marietta's identity. While sailing, the cargo ship is taken hostage by pirates, but, Captain Richard Warrington and his mercenaries soon come to the rescue. Captain Warrington is quickly taken by the beautiful princess aka Marietta and she with him. But, he has no interest in marriage and she's afraid she might be recognized. Meanwhile in France, a search and reward is out for Princess Marie's whereabouts. Princess Marie's Uncle and fiancée soon discover that she is in New Orleans and sail for ... Written by Kelly
Taglines:
Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy together for the first time! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 March 1935 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
La fugue de Mariette See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USACompany Credits
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1Did You Know?
Trivia
The two crucial missing characters are the Governor's effeminate son Etienne and the Gypsy girl with whom he has fallen in love. They form an alternate love match which was completely eliminated from the movie version. See more »Goofs
The 17th Century French nuns have plucked eyebrows and wear make-up and lipstick. See more »Soundtracks
"Chansonette"(1910) (uncredited)
Music by Victor Herbert
Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young
Additional lyrics by Gus Kahn (1935)
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and chorus
See more »
Naughty Marietta marked the first teaming of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and what a success it was. MacDonald had broken into films with Paramount pictures which made her a star. She moved to MGM the previous year and had done a fourth film with Maurice Chevalier which was well received. But she and Chevalier did not get along and she wanted no more films with him. She did one with Ramon Novarro and there was no great demand for that team.
Louis B. Mayer decided to team her with operatic baritone Nelson Eddy. Eddy had been signed by MGM and had done what we would now call cameo parts in three films. He even gave Eddy co-star billing in this first featured role.
The results were a box office smash. Jeanette and Nelson looked great on the screen and sang even better. Seven more films followed that paired them. Even today they still have a loyal fan base.
Naughty Marietta had its debut on Broadway in 1910 with music by Victor Herbert and book and lyrics by Rida Johnson Young. It was one of Herbert's biggest hits and the songs are still popular today. Back then the melody was king and what melodies they were.
Of course the book has to be taken with a grain of salt and allowances for the mores of the times. The operetta is set in the New Orleans of Louis XV. One of his royal wards has been promised to wed a Spanish nobleman and she wants none of it. The royal lady exchanges places with her maid who is going to New Orleans as a promised bride for one of the French colonists.
When they're almost there, the ship is attacked by pirates and the promised brides among them Jeanette MacDonald are taken ashore. But they are rescued by an intrepid band of frontiersman led by Nelson Eddy who sing even better than they fight. They're mercenaries in the service of the Territorial Governor of Louisiana.
As Jeanette put it in the beginning of the film, she wants to marry for love and she couldn't love any of those powderpuff courtiers that inhabit Versailles.
Watching my VHS of Naughty Marietta today it was interesting to see a portrayal of New Orleans society in 1765 and then seeing New Orleans try to dry out from another hurricane. New Orleans was and is one valuable piece of real estate on this continent, located at the mouth of the Mississippi-Missouri-Ohio river systems. It changed hands until many times until the Louisiana Purchase got it for the USA.
Nelson and Jeanette have a rough go of it as they always do in their films. But a few songs and love conquers all.
Being this was their first film, Jeanette and Nelson got to sing their first duet which was Ah Sweet Mystery of Life. A really fabulous melody and lyric from a golden age of song writing. One of the great love songs ever written. Naughty Marietta should be seen for that alone.