Maytime (1937)

An aging opera singer looks back on her long life, including her relationships with her vocal teacher and a student.

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Rida Johnson Young (operetta), Noel Langley

Stars:

Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, John Barrymore

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Marcia Mornay
Nelson Eddy	...	Paul Allison
John Barrymore	...	Nicolai Nazaroff
Herman Bing	...	August Archipenko
Tom Brown	...	Kip Stuart
Lynne Carver	...	Barbara Roberts
Rafaela Ottiano	...	Ellen
Charles Judels	...	Cabby
Paul Porcasi	...	Trentini
Sig Ruman	...	Fanchon (as Sig Rumann)
Walter Kingsford	...	Mr. Rudyard
Guy Bates Post	...	Louis Napoleon

Storyline

An elderly Miss Morrison recounts her life as the once young and beautiful opera singer Marcia Morney-then the toast of Napoleon III's Paris. One evening, she encounters an American voice student, Paul Allison, and the two unexpectedly fall in love. Unfortunately for her, she has already accepted the marriage proposal of her mentor, Nicolai Nazaroff-more out of obligation than any feeling of love for him. As a result, she breaks off her relationship with Paul, and reluctantly marries Nicolai. After 7 years of marriage, Nicolai sets up Marcia for an engagement performance in the United States of the opera "Tsaritsa". Nicolai signs up Paul as her leading partner, not knowing of Marcia and Paul's past. When he realizes what he has done, Nicolai becomes enraged with jealousy...

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Plot Keywords:

month in title | opera | jealousy | opera singer | blizzard | 

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Taglines:

Forbidden Love...Fatal Consequences

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Primavera

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:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White (tinted sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opera "Tsaritsa" (also spelled "Czaritza") is fictional. However the music is from "Symphony Number 5" by Tchaikovsky.

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Goofs

During the ball scene, Marcia Mornay sings Les filles de Cadiz by Delibes at the command of the Emperor Louis Napoleon. However, the piece was not composed until 1874, whereas Louis reigned from 1852-1870.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on the water and on the bark of the trees.

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Alternate Versions

Originally released in Sepia Platinum for Roadshow engagements, this was a process most famously used in the Kansas portions of 'The Wizard of Oz' and the Panama jungle scenes in 'The Sea Hawk'

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Connections

Featured in Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)

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Soundtracks

Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
(uncredited)
Written by James Allen Bland
Sung by Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald

User Reviews

Superbly Crafted. And One of the Saddest Films I've Ever Seen.

I won't repeat what some of the other reviews have said, other than to add my perspective. This was a marvelous film, made with great skill in every way, from screenplay to songs. It is also, along with "Waterloo Bridge" and "How Green Was My Valley" (see reviews), one of the saddest movies I have ever seen.

Of course it manipulates us into reaching for the hankies, but it does a good job at it. I consider myself a big cynical guy, but this movie! Man. I saw it many years ago, and to this day if someone mentions the word "sweetheart", I think of the song "Will You Remember?" and start getting teary-eyed!

Yes, I have it on video. I ALSO HAVE THE RADIO BROADCAST! In 1944, the Lux Radio Theater reprised the popular film in an hour long broadcast with the original stars. The adaptation was wonderfully done. The only change of note was Nelson Eddy sang the rousing French march, "Le Regiment du Sambre et Meuse" instead of Jeanette MacDonald. I downloaded this gem from the Bearshare peer to peer service. It is worth looking for and downloading.

Just don't anyone ever say "Sweethearts" to me - in any context at any time I think of "Maytime" and get sad. Of course some people love those types of films.

One memorable movie. But it made me so sad I almost wish I never saw it. Almost!