I Dream Too Much

Because of Lily Pons' high soprano, this film was rudely nicknamed "I Scream Too Much." Actually, Pons had a lovely light voice with a girlish sound; her singing didn't sound like screaming. In spite of my love of serious music, I have to laugh at the nickname.

Henry Fonda and Lily Pons? OK. Today, combining a young male romantic lead with an opera singer seems strange. In the mid 20th Century, classical music wasn't viewed suspiciously by most people, as it is now. No rock, rap, or hip hop yet (now THAT's what I call screaming).

I hope this film will become available on DVD or tape - it's been years since I've seen it.

Struggling American composer Johnny Street (Henry Fonda) is in France where he stumbles across a naive, sheltered young woman, Annette Monard (Pons). After a drunken night out, they wake up married, and decide to give it a go. Johnny is stunned to discover that Annette is a gifted operatic singer, in training since childhood, and after impresario Paul Darcy (Osgood Perkins) hears her, she becomes a leading star of the European musical stage, much to the annoyance of Johnny, who can't sell a song much less his opera. Also featuring Eric Blore (with a performing seal), Lucille Ball, Lucien Littlefield, Mischa Auer, Paul Porcasi, Gino Corrado, Billy Gilbert, Ferdinand Gottschalk, and Scotty Beckett.

Pons, a gifted singer, has trouble with her dialogue and her thick French accent makes understanding her a bit difficult at times. She seems like she's enjoying herself, but at age 37 at the time of filming she seems a bit old for her role. The romance is lacking in chemistry, and the comedy is weak, especially considering the talents of Blore and Ball. That leaves the songs: there's some classical-style opera, some operetta bits, and some pop tunes, but none made any impression. The "show-stopper" musical number at the end, featuring a fashion show, and one of the silliest choreographed group dance bits I've ever seen, brings some unintentional entertainment. This movie managed to nab an Oscar nomination, for Best Sound Recording.

Back in the 1930s, studios loved trying out opera stars in movies. Opera stars Lawrence Tibbett made several films (including one with Laurel & Hardy), Grace Moore just a few more and Lily Pons made four appearances in films. The only really successful movie star/opera singers were Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy...but there is a reason. They were primarily actors and then singers....whereas Tibbett, Moore and Pons were first and foremost singers. Nowadays, you look at many of these opera star features and you wonder....how could audiences of the day enjoy these pictures? After all, the average person was NOT an opera fan...and, in hindsight, they really didn't as Moore's nine films was the most that these three opera stars made.

Annette is a sheltered girl and has seen nothing of the world. So, one night she sneaks out of her house and encounters a stranger in a cute meet up. Johnny (Henry Fonda) is a bohemian who has bounced about Europe and has no intentions of settling down...yet the morning after they meet he awakens to find they are married. He has no idea that his wife is a world class singer and he think his key to success is his musical compositions. Eventually, his ego is bruised as he sees his wife being showered with praise and his compositions aren't attracting any attention at all.

I am no opera expert. However, Pons' very high pitched singing and speaking voice were NOT easy on the ears...and might explain her very short film career. She tries very hard...but I honestly cannot recall a woman speaking THIS high pitched in a movie and it was a bit painful. Overall, an odd curio but not much more. Fans of Henry Fonda will probably enjoy him but the film isn't particularly good...like most of the opera films.

Who's worse, Cyd Charisse when she's not dancing or Lily Pons when she's not singing? (And no, Doris Day, who could actually be a good actress on far spaced occasions, is not even in the running). It's a close call but my money's on Pons with that insufferable, nails on a French menu chalkboard Pepita Le Peu accent and simpering smile. Fonda really paid his acting dues having to team with this babe and that stupid seal, huh?

I found this movie on TCM. Lily Pons' singing is awesome, it makes the movie. I was born too late to hear her sing in person, but thanks to movies like this I can hear her.