Sweethearts (1938 film)

Sweethearts is an American film operetta from 1938 and the first full-length feature film by MGM in the newly developed 3-color Technicolor. The main characters are the popular screen couple Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy plays. The directing the film produced with considerable effort, which uses almost exclusively songs from the eponymous operetta by Victor Herbert, led WS Van Dyke. Sweethearts became one of the most financially successful films of the year 1938 for the studio.

Action

The new production of Victor Herbert's operetta Sweethearts with the two stars Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane runs ready for several years. The main actress are also a couple and plan to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary with much effort. Everything could be perfect if the two were the hardships of life stage would not gradually tired. Since flew the lucrative offer to the house to make a career in Hollywood. The plan, however, sabotaged by relatives, friends and especially the producer of the stage show, Felix Lehman. The intrigues go as far as the couple to move to separate, so as to bring the attention of Hollywood to a standstill. At the end, after several tangles, a failed film debut and many common songs Gwen and Ernest at the end back where they belong: on the stage floor in a revival of Sweet Hearts.

Background

The color film fulfilled the hopes of the film producers not the expected boost innovation comparable to the introduction of sound. The high investments have not been rewarded by a higher incidence of paying spectators. In that regard, it was understandable when MGM only after long hesitation, began planning for the first feature film in the newly developed 3-color Technicolor. The other major movie studios were already familiar with the technology. Becky Sharp, The Garden of Allah, The Trail of the Lonesome Pine came in 1935/36 in theaters without exhibiting commercially much success. It was not until the outstanding financial success of The Adventures of Robin Hood, who was released in mid 1938, convinced the studio managers to take advantage of the trend. After the work on the first color project, the adventure film Northwest Passage, to technical difficulties failed already begun filming at Sweethearts, the fifth film together of the popular screen pair Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy was stopped after a few days and started as a color film again. WS Van Dyke, de first introduced the director at Northwest Passage, was now required for the implementation of Sweethearts.

Theatrical Release

With production costs of 1.966 million U.S. dollars Sweethearts was one of the most expensive MGM movies until then. In the U.S., the film played a very large sum of 2.017 million U.S. dollars, of which 1,230,000 U.S. dollars came from abroad again. With a cumulative total profit of 3.196 million dollars became one of the most successful films of the year for MGM from Sweethearts.

Music

The soundtrack of the film contains numerous pieces of Victor Herbert, preferably from the same operetta

  • Wooden Shoes
  • Every Lover Must Meet His Fate
  • Happy Day
  • Sweethearts
  • Pretty as a Picture
  • The Game of Love
  • The Message of the Violet ( from the operetta The Prince of Pilsen by Frank Pixley )
  • Keep It Dark (also from The Prince of Pilsen)
  • Badinage
  • On Parade
  • Every Lover Must Meet His Fate / Sweethearts
  • Little Grey Home in the West

Criticism

Most critics found the film too long and set right without Elan in scene. Also raised were that the stars but only now their stereotypical roles would play despite the contemporary background.

Time magazine said, because even laconically:

" Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy remain the same, despite modern costumes and Technicolor. "

Awards

At the Academy Awards in 1939, the film received nominations in the categories:

  • Best Original Score
  • Best Sound

An honorary Oscar ("[ for] its Contributions in successfully bringing three-color feature production to the screen" ), there was for the camera men Oliver T. Marsh and Allen M. Davey.

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