I Married An Angel was the final Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy film together. Released in July 1942, the surreal comedy/musical wasn’t understood by audiences or critics. It’s one of those films like Vertigo or It’s a Wonderful Life that found its audience years after being considered a failure. Today, some fans claim it as their favorite teaming because the two stars…
Above, reel life becomes real life! Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in the most famous scene from their 1940 MGM hit, New Moon… the “Wanting You” number. New Moon was the sixth Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy film and first made together after Nelson’s marriage in January 1939 to Ann Franklin. Below, Jeanette recovering from her suicide attempt after Nelson’s…
Girl was the fourth MacDonald/Eddy team movie and the one most affected by what was happening in their personal lives. It was filmed after Jeanette’s marriage to Gene Raymond and she and Nelson weren’t speaking off-screen. Nelson was drinking and Jeanette would prove too emotional to sing the obligatory love duet with him under a tree, so unbelievably – it…
Maytime was the third MacDonald/Eddy movie together. Originally, it was to be MGM’s first Technicolor film with Jeanette, Nelson, Paul Lukas and Frank Morgan in the cast. That it was shot for color release was verified by one of the makeup men on the shoot, Fred Phillips. (We can also see in the photos of Nelson from this production that…
Rose-Marie was the second Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy film and it is probably still to this day their most famous. You may speak to someone who isn’t familiar with them but if you mention it’s the movie about a Mountie and they sing “When I’m calling you-oo-oo-oo,” the person tends to say: “Ah, yes, I’ve heard of that.” For…
Ah, Sweet Mystery of…instant stardom and romantic chemistry! Translation: Naughty Marietta was the sleeper hit of 1935 and beat out Mutiny on the Bounty in Photoplay magazine as the best film of the year. Another amazing fact, Jeanette MacDonald pushed to have Nelson Eddy receive equal billing with her. Remember in her early films with Maurice Chevalier this was not…
Alert! Watch live or set your DVRs! Turner Classic Movies is airing all the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy team movies in chronological order starting at 6 am (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. In recent weeks I’ve been chatting with folks on various Classic Hollywood groups and have come to realize that many people are not aware…