Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    Best of 2021OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersGolden GlobesEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
    AllTitlesTV EpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In

Bitter Sweet

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
512
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
DramaMusicalRomance

A woman runs away with her music teacher in order to escape an arranged marriage, but they struggle to make ends meet.A woman runs away with her music teacher in order to escape an arranged marriage, but they struggle to make ends meet.A woman runs away with her music teacher in order to escape an arranged marriage, but they struggle to make ends meet.

IMDb RATING
5.9/10
512
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • W.S. Van Dyke
  • Writers
    • Noël Coward(original play)
    • Lesser Samuels(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Jeanette MacDonald
    • Nelson Eddy
    • George Sanders
Top credits
  • Director
    • W.S. Van Dyke
  • Writers
    • Noël Coward(original play)
    • Lesser Samuels(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Jeanette MacDonald
    • Nelson Eddy
    • George Sanders
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos32

    Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Ian Hunter and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Edward Ashley and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    George Sanders and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeanette MacDonald
    Jeanette MacDonald
    • Sarah Millickas Sarah Millick
    Nelson Eddy
    Nelson Eddy
    • Carl Lindenas Carl Linden
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Baron von Tranischas Baron von Tranisch
    Ian Hunter
    Ian Hunter
    • Lord Shayneas Lord Shayne
    Felix Bressart
    Felix Bressart
    • Maxas Max
    Edward Ashley
    Edward Ashley
    • Harry Daventryas Harry Daventry
    Lynne Carver
    Lynne Carver
    • Dollyas Dolly
    Diana Lewis
    Diana Lewis
    • Janeas Jane
    Curt Bois
    Curt Bois
    • Ernstas Ernst
    Fay Holden
    Fay Holden
    • Mrs. Millickas Mrs. Millick
    Sig Ruman
    Sig Ruman
    • Herr Schlickas Herr Schlick
    • (as Sig Rumann)
    Janet Beecher
    Janet Beecher
    • Lady Daventryas Lady Daventry
    Charles Judels
    Charles Judels
    • Herr Wyleras Herr Wyler
    Veda Ann Borg
    Veda Ann Borg
    • Manonas Manon
    Herman Bing
    Herman Bing
    • Market Keeperas Market Keeper
    Greta Meyer
    Greta Meyer
    • Mama Ludenas Mama Luden
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Cafe Patronas Cafe Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Max Barwyn
    Max Barwyn
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • W.S. Van Dyke
    • Writers
      • Noël Coward(original play)
      • Lesser Samuels(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In order to avoid an arranged marriage with a man she doesn't love, Sarah Millick runs off to Vienna with her music teacher, Carl Linden, whom she does love. They are married. In Vienna, they struggle to make a living by making music. Carl writes an operetta and tries to get it produced. They are helped along by Viennese Baron, but his intentions are not honorable. He kills Carl in a sword fight. A big producer does put on the operetta, with Sari in the lead -- but without her husband, it is a bittersweet victory. —John Oswalt <jao@jao.com>
    husband wife relationshipromantic rivalryhomosexual subtextremakeoperetta4 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Technicolor's Greatest Spectacle!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Musical
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Except for a few shots where she was doubled by Audrey Scott, Jeanette MacDonald did most of her own horseback riding.
    • Quotes

      Sarah Millick, later Sari Linden: [over a very sparse dinner] Oh well, maybe it's all for the best. I hear more people die from overeating than from any other cause.

      Carl Linden: I bet we'll be immortal, then. I hate Herr Weiller.

      Sarah Millick, later Sari Linden: I hate the market keeper.

      Carl Linden: I hate the landlord.

      Sarah Millick, later Sari Linden: That's not fair, *I* was going to hate the landlord. *You* hate Herr Weiller again.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown on a sewing sampler.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Miracle of Sound (1940)
    • Soundtracks
      I'll See You Again
      (1929) (uncredited)

      Written by Noël Coward

      Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Jeanette and Eddy, those sweethearts again
    An obvious attempt to rework the studio hit Maytime and to an extent it works. The plot though slight, is not common as it actually tries to follow the trials and tribulations of a starving artistic couple, at least for the first hour. A few classic songs with those famous operatic voices is unleashed occasionally and the comedy is obvious but prudent. George Sanders as the heavy is very good and if not for his voice is almost unrecognizable. This movie contains a grand musical finale with technicolor used to its palest, so to speak with dancers following and trailing Jeanette as she dashes around the stage. Not great, not serious, not intelligent but pleasing, fun and touching.
    helpful•2
    2
    • raskimono
    • Oct 12, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 8, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bittersweet
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    ‘Bittersweet’ highlights a shocking truth about women in Beed
    ‘Bittersweet’ highlights a shocking truth about women in Beed
    Oct 1GlamSham
    Ananth Mahadevan 'Bittersweet' highlights a shocking truth
    Ananth Mahadevan 'Bittersweet' highlights a shocking truth
    Oct 1GlamSham

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Bitter Sweet (1940)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Bitter Sweet (1940) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the entire gallery
    Image caption not available
    2:51
    What to Watch in December
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2021 by IMDb.com, Inc.