Naughty Marietta

Naughty Marietta
MGM, 1935, B/W, 106 minutes, ***½
Released March, 1935

Princess Marie is bored with being a princess. She longs for adventure. And when she hears of a boatload of young ladies being taken to the New World to become wives of the settlers, she disguises herself and hops aboard for the adventure of a lifetime. The ship is attacked by pirates near Louisiana and the women are taken captive. They are rescued by a band of French Indian scouts under the command of Nelson Eddy. Eddy falls head-over-heels in love with Marietta, but she manages to keep him at bay for most of the film. After Marietta is settled in New Orleans, her royal family finds out where she is and sends a small group of dignitaries to fetch her home.

One of the more entertaining "Eddy-Macs" features a great song score, including "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," the "Italian Street Song," "'Neath the Southern Moon," and the beautiful, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life."

Produced by: Hunt Stromberg
Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
Screen Play by: John Lee Mahin, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Based on the Stage Musical, Book and Lyrics by Rida Johnson Young, Music by Victor Herbert
Musical Adaptation: Herbert Stothart
Additional Lyrics: Gus Kahn
Dance Director: Chester Hale
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associates: Arnold Gillespie, Edwin B. Willis
Gowns by: Adrian
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Photographed by: William Daniels
Film Editor: Blanche Sewell

Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Recording, Academy Award nomination for Best Picture

Cast: Jeanette MacDonald [Marietta], Nelson Eddy [Warrington], Frank Morgan [Governor d'Annard], Elsa Lanchester [Madame d'Annard], Douglas Dumbrille [Uncle], Joseph Cawthorn [Herr Schuman], Cecilia Parker [Julie], Walter Kingsford [Don Carlos], Greta Meyer [Frau Schuman], Akim Tamiroff [Rudolpho], Harold Huber [Abe], Edward Brophy [Zeke], Additional Cast: Mary Doran, Jane Mercer, Marjorie Main, Jean Chatburn, Patricia Farley, Jane Barnes, Kay English, Linda Parker [Casquette Girls], Arthur Belasco, Tex Driscoll, Edward Hearn, Edmund Cobb, Charles Dunbar, Ed Brady [Mercenary Scouts], Dr. Edouard Lippe [Landlord], Olive Carey [Madame Renavent], William Desmond [Havre Gendarme Chief], Cora Sue Collins [Felice], Helen Shipman [Marietta Franini], William Burress [Bouget, the Petshop Keeper], Catherine Griffith [Prunella, Marie's Maid], Billy Dooley [Marietta's Drunk "Brother"], Guy Usher [Ship's Captain], Walter Long [Pirate Captain], Harry Cording, Frank Hagney, Constantine Romanoff [Pirates], Henry Roquemore [Herald], Mary Foy [Duenna], James C. Morton [Barber], Louis Mercier [Dueler], Bob McKenzie [Town Crier], Delos Jewkes [Priest on Dock], William Moore, Harry Tenbrook [Suitors], Ben Hall [Mama's Boy], Edward Keane [Major Cornell], Roger Gray [Sergeant], Ralph Brooks, Edward Norris [Marie's Suitors], Richard Powell [Herald], Wilfred Lucas [Herald at Ball], Jack Mower [Nobleman], Adriana Caselotti [Dancing Doll], Zarubi Elmassian [Voice of Suzette]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles, includes very brief vocals by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy); [0:06] Chansonette (sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Chorus); [0:18] Antoinette and Anatole (sung by Delos Jewkes and Chorus); [0:19] Prayer (sung by Delos Jewkes, Jeanette MacDonald and Chorus); [0:27] Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (sung and marched by Nelson Eddy and Mens Chorus); [0:33] The Owl and the Bobcat (sung by Nelson Eddy and Mens Chorus); [0:37] 'Neath the Southern Moon (sung by Nelson Eddy); [0:54] Italian Street Song (sung by Zarubi Elmassian [dubbing for Suzette], Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald and Chorus); [1:02] Ship Ahoy (sung by Akim Tamiroff, Jeanette MacDonald and Chorus as marionettes); [1:14] I'm Falling in Love with Someone (sung by Nelson Eddy); [1:27] Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (sung by Nelson Eddy and Mens Chorus in background); [1:29] Minuet (danced by party guests); [1:34] Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life (sung by Jeanette MacDonald, then sung by Nelson Eddy, then sung by both together); [1:42] Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (sung by Chorus) / Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life (reprised by Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy)