Rosalie

Rosalie


MGM, 1937, B/W, 122 minutes, ***

Released December, 1937



The music of Cole Porter, including "In the Still of the Night," highlights this romantic musical about a West Point cadet who falls for a European princess. Nelson Eddy, Eleanor Powell, Edna May Oliver, Frank Morgan and Ray Bolger star.



This film has some breathtakingly beautiful sets and costumes. The dance numbers at the festival are outstanding! The only complaint I have is that they were trimmed - I would have liked to seen them in their entirety! And why doesn't Ilona Massy get to sing more? Why doesn't Bolger get to dance?



This is the film where Eleanor Powell dances on giant drums. And there is music from one end to the other -- almost impossible to list all of it, and most is just very short excerpts. Great dancing sequences!



Produced by: William Anthony McGuire

Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke II

Screen Play Written and Produced by: William Anthony McGuire

Based in the Play by William Anthony McGuire and Guy Bolton

Words and Music by: Cole Porter

Musical Direction by: Herbert Stothart

Musical Presentation by: Merrill Pye

Dances and Ensembles Created by: Albertina Rasch

Musical Conductor: George Stoll

Musical Arrangements: Roger Edens

Orchestral and Vocal Arrangements: Leo Arnaud, Murray Cutter, Leon Raab, Paul Marquardt

Art Director: Cedric Gibbons

Associates: Joseph Wright, Edwin B. Willis

Wardrobe by: Dolly Tree

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Photographed by: Oliver T. Marsh

Montage Effects by: Slavko Vorkapich

Film Editor: Blanche Sewell



Cast: Nelson Eddy [Dick Thorpe], Eleanor Powell [Rosalie], Frank Morgan [King], Edna May Oliver [Queen], Ray Bolger [Bill Delroy], Ilona Massey [Brenda], Billy Gilbert [Oloff], Reginald Owen [Chancellor], Tom Rutherford [Prince Paul], Clay Clement [Captain Banner], Virginia Grey [Mary Callahan], George Zucco [General Maroff], Oscar O'Shea [Mr. Callahan], Jerry Colonna [Joseph], Janet Beecher [Miss Baker], William Demarest [Army Coach], Additional Cast: Rush Hughes [Announcer], Wallis Clark [Major Prentice], Richard Tucker [Colonel Brandon], Wilson Benge [Steward], Pierre Watkin [Academy superintendent], Tommy Bond [Mickey], Purnell Pratt [Ship's Captain], Ricca Allen [Schoolteacher], Al Shean [Herman Schmidt], Frank Du Frane [Superintendent's Aide], Ocean Claypool, Kay Aldridge [Ladies-in-Waiting], Edward Earle [Navy Officer], George Magrill [Assistant Army Coach], Lane Chandler [Army Coach], Phillip Terry [Cadet], William Tannen [Cadet], George Humbert [Carlo], Max Davidson [Chamberlain], Harry Semels, Roy Barcroft, John Picorri, Sidney Bracey [Conspirators], Albertina Rasch Dancers [Themselves], Marjorie Lane [singing voice of Eleanor Powell



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Rosalie" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] On Brave Old Army Team (excerpt sung by Nelson Eddy and Chorus); [0:10] There are a number of military marches and anthems played by orchestra in this sequence, most notably the Navy singing the Army anthem and vice-versa after the Army-Navy football game The Caissons Go Rolling Along (excerpt sung and marched by Nelson Eddy, Ray Bolger and Chorus, then sung by Sailors to Soldiers [Chorus]); [0:12] Anchors Aweigh (excerpt sung to Sailors by Nelson Eddy, Ray Bolger and Chorus); [0:13] Who Knows (excerpt sung by Camille Soray dubbing for Lois Clements, instrumental segment danced by Nelson Eddy and Eleanor Powell); [0:17] Who Knows (excerpt sung by Nelson Eddy while dancing with Eleanor Powell, later sung by Nelson Eddy dancing with Eleanor Powell); [0:21] I've Got a Strange New Rhythm in My Heart (sung and danced by Eleanor Powell, Marjorie Lane dubbing for Miss Powell); [0:31] M'appari tutt' amor (from the opera MARTHA, excerpt sung by Nelson Eddy attempting to serenade Eleanor Powell); [0:32] Rosalie (sung by Nelson Eddy serenading Eleanor Powell); [0:39] Why Should I Care (sung by Frank Morgan with his dummy Nappy); [0:45] Billy Gilbert's sneezing fit (he played Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the same year - 1937); [0:53] Polovetsian Dances (played by Orchestra, danced by the Albertina Rasch Dancers); [0:55] Spring Love Is in the Air (sung by Illona Massey and Chorus); [0:59] Caucasian Sketches (played by Orchestra, danced by Albertina Rasch Dancers and Chorus -- incredible set and costuming! It's hard to believe they trimmed this down to just a few seconds!); [1:07] unidentified (played by Orchestra, danced by the Albertina Rasch Dancers and Chorus); [1:09] Rosalie (sung by Chorus, danced by Eleanor Powell in the "Drum Dance" sequence); [1:17] In the Still of the Night (sung by Nelson Eddy to Elenor Powell); [1:23] Ray Bolger gets to do a tiny little tap routine here; [1:40] It's All Over But the Shouting (sung by Nelson Eddy and Cadets); [1:40] To Love or Not to Love (sung by Nelson Eddy, Ray Bolger and Cadets); [1:48] Sousa Medley (Marched by Eleanor Powell and Cadets, then danced by Powell); [1:55] In the Still of the Night (short reprisal sung by Nelson Eddy); [2:00] Finale: Wedding March (excerpt played by Orchestra) Gaudeamus Igitur / O Promise Me / Rosalie (sung by Nelson Eddy and Chorus)