The Chocolate Soldier
MGM, 1941, Color, 102 minutes, ***½
Premiere release October, 1941
General release November, 1941
Fun and charming film about a husband / wife operatic team (Eddy and Stevens). Eddy is convinced that Stevens no longer loves him, and sets out to prove it by disguising himself as a Russian aristocrat and wooing Stevens in an attempt to get her to "wander." It doesn't take Stevens long to figure out what's up, and she strings the Russian along confusing him with an array of mixed signals of romance and guilt. Eddy is hilarious as the Russian suitor, and Stevens turns in a wonderful performance. Completely delightful film. Musical highlights include the classic "My Hero," which is reprised throughout the film.
"This story takes place in Balkany.
The time, we cannot fix it.
When Russians Prussians Turks and Czechs
were reticent to mix it."
Produced by: Victor Saville
Directed by: Roy Del Ruth
Screen Play by: Leonard Lee and Keith Winter
Based on Ferenc Molnar's The Guardsman with music and lyrics from "The Chocolate Soldier" of which the music was written by Oscar Straus, the English lyrics by Stanislaus Stange and the original lyrics by Rudolph Bernauer and Leopold Jacobson
Musical Program based on "The Chocolate Soldier"
Musical Adaptation and Direction by: Herbert Stothart and Bronislau Kaper
Additional Music and Lyrics: Gus Kahn, Bronislau Kaper
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Dances Created and Staged by: Ernst Matray
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: John S. Detlie
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Gowns by: Adrian
Men's Costumes by: Gile Steele
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Karl Freund
Film Editor: James E. Newcom
Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best B/W Cinematography (Karl Freund), Best Score - Musical (Herbert Stothart and Bronislau Kaper) and Best Sound Recording (Douglas Shearer)
Cast: Nelson Eddy [Karl Lang], Risë Stevens [Maria Lanyl], Nigel Bruce [Bernard Fischer], Florence Bates [Mme. Helene], Dorothy Gilmore [Magd], Nydia Westman [Liesel], Max Barwyn [Anton], Charles Judels [Klementor], Jack Lipson [Captain Masakroff], Leon Belasco [Waiter], Sig Arno [Emile], Dave Willock [Messenger Boy]
Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] My Hero (Risë Stevens and Nelson Eddy); [0:05] Thank the Lord the War Is Over (Risë Stevens, Nelson Eddy and Chorus); [0:15] Mon Coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (from the opera SAMSON AND DELILAH, sung by Risë Stevens); [0:21] Sympathy (Nelson Eddy and Risë Stevens); [0:25] Seek the Spy (sung and danced by unidentified group of men); [0:31] Song of the Flea (Nelson Eddy disguised as the Russian); [1:00] Evening Star (from the opera TANNHÄUSER, sung by Nelson Eddy disguised as the Russian); [1:14] While My Lady Sleeps (Nelson Eddy disguised as the Russian serenading Risë Stevens); [1:18] Ti-Ra-La-La (sung by Risë Stevens while dancing with Nelson Eddy disguised as the Russian); [1:20] unidentified Russian dance (danced by Nelson Eddy, disguised as the Russian, and Ensemble); [1:21] unidentified song (sung by unidentified little girl with Risë Stevens, Nelson Eddy and Chorus); [1:21] My Hero (reprised by Risë Stevens); [1:30] The Chocolate Soldier (sung by Nelson Eddy and Risë Stevens, danced by Chorus); [1:34] My Hero (with special lyrics, sung by Nelson Eddy); [1:35] Seek the Spy (reprised by unidentified group of men); [1:35] My Hero (with special lyrics, sung by Risë Stevens, danced by Chorus); [1:39] Forgive (Nelson Eddy); [1:40] My Hero (Risë Stevens and Nelson Eddy)
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