Naughty Marietta (1935)

In order to avoid a prearranged marriage, a rebellious French princess sheds her identity and escapes to colonial New Orleans, where she finds an unlikely true love.

Directors:

Robert Z. Leonard (uncredited), W.S. Van Dyke (uncredited)

Writers:

Rida Johnson Young (book), John Lee Mahin (screen play)

Stars:

Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Frank Morgan

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Marietta
Nelson Eddy	...	Warrington
Frank Morgan	...	Governor d'Annard
Elsa Lanchester	...	Madame d'Annard
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Uncle (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Joseph Cawthorn	...	Herr Schuman (as Joseph Cawthorne)
Cecilia Parker	...	Julie
Walter Kingsford	...	Don Carlos
Greta Meyer	...	Frau Schuman
Akim Tamiroff	...	Rudolpho
Harold Huber	...	Abe
Edward Brophy	...	Zeke

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

princess | captain | pirate | arranged marriage | operetta | 

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Taglines:

Victor Herbert's Greatest Stage Success... Now The Big Screen Musical Of All Time!

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Victor Herbert's music was used for this movie, the plot is not the same as that of the original musical, as was often the custom back then for adaptation of stage musicals. Many of the lyrics (by Rida Johnson Young) are also changed.

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Goofs

The 17th Century French nuns have plucked eyebrows and wear make-up and lipstick.

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Quotes

Warrington: I'm full of interest - right now!

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Connections

Referenced in The Donna Reed Show: Sweet Mystery of Wife (1963)

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Soundtracks

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
(1910) (uncredited)
Music by Victor Herbert
Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

User Reviews

Why Not on DVD??

I wish that "Naughty Marietta" and "Sweethearts" and "I Married an Angel" and " and "Maytime" and would be gathered in a 4 disc Tribute set of DVD's. MacDonald and Eddy were well aware that the music in their films was mostly tripe and that the plot lines were thin at best.They were keenly aware of their film's theatricality being in a style that was already passé. But if you watch their faces when they act, ( and it is very good acting!) and see the mutual admiration in their eyes, and understand that it is all performed with tongue in cheek, the films become a lasting delight. My favorites are "Marietta," "Sweethearts" and "Maytime."

"Marietta" is the height of charm. MacDonald is perfection with her bird like trills and rolling "r"s, and shows a very wide display of emotions, including everything from dramatic hand wringing and tears to delightful comedic acting and humor. Eddy matches these moods with considerable skill. He had to be somewhat less flamboyant than MacDonald in order to keep t the movie plausible. The real villain is the plot, but even that could not take away the delight this picture gives to me. ( Frank Morgan is great in it!)

" Sweethearts" is my very favorite of their films. The antiquated plot of the musical stage play was tossed, and a whole new modern story was written for it by Dorothy Parker. Only the songs from the operetta were kept, and were interwoven into the movie within "Great Ziegfeld " like elaborate settings. It was also the first full length 3 strip Technicolor movie made at MGM. Both stars looked wonderful in color, and the absolutely rip roaringly funny story line only pauses for the musical numbers . The songs were acted and sung with such obvious self depreciating humor, that I cannot stop smiling , even now as I am writing this.

"Maytime" is, of course a tragedy, with lovely haunting songs and great scenic beauty. The made for the screen "Opera within the operetta" is the two star's acting zenith. Their delight and passion and friendship for each other in real life shines through the scene, giving it an extraordinary sense of truth. SO, Why not a glorious Boxed set from SONY/ TURNER/ MGM? Please??????

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Naughty Marietta

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1