I had a difficult time getting into the story. The first fifteen or twenty minutes seemed kind of clichéd and the sets were sparsely furnished to indicate the humble origins of Grace Moore's character. But I figured it would get better once the musical selections played, and I was right. The sets also improved as her character worked her way up in the opera world and became a success. She's a very strong vocalist and in some ways, I think she's a little better than her contemporary, Jeanette MacDonald. The extended scene halfway into the picture where she performs Bizet's Carmen is truly excellent. The film is helped by the casting of Lyle Talbot as a would-be suitor, Jessie Ralph as the maid, and Jane Darwell as Moore's mother. The leading man is played by Italian actor Tullio Carminati and his interpretation of the Svengali-like manager is quite good. The finale, where he encourages her to overcome her stage fright and she sings from Puccini's Madame Butterfly, is exquisite and triumphant. By the time the Columbia logo came across the screen at the end, I was glad I had watched this motion picture. And of course, I wished they still made 'em so good.
Review of One Night of Love
