Celos de gloria

An enjoyable film, but it is not really (in fact, not at all) a biography of Victor Herbert, as the title suggests. The music, however, is a delight, and although Herbert's music would now no doubt be considered 'dated' by many people, he did have a sure melodic gift. Many of his songs have a wide vocal range and are by no means easy to sing; one of his trademarks is the use of wide and unusual intervals (e.g. a major ninth in 'I'm falling in love with someone'; an octave plus a semitone, a major seventh and a tenth in 'Kiss me again'). This, combined with the sometimes flowery lyrics and his penchant for the slow waltz, give his music an old-world charm that is well served in this film by the performances, the set and the costumes.

Allan Jones and Mary Martin are both worth seeing - and hearing. Allan Jones had a fine tenor voice, which he uses here to good effect. It is always interesting to see Mary Martin on screen - although she comes over as perfectly fine - indeed good - there is perhaps little to suggest that she would go on to become one of the very greatest musical stars of Broadway (and, indeed, also of the West End in London) of the middle years of the twentieth century. (Those who doubt that this film allows us to hear her real singing voice of these years should seek out a recording of her in Noel Coward's Pacific 1860 (London, 1946), in which she plays an opera diva, or of Peter Pan, in which her coloratura pyrotechnics can be heard.)

All in all, an enjoyable film for those who like the music of Victor Herbert (and people who enjoy operetta music or musicals generally are likely to find Herbert's music worth exploring) and also for those who are fans of the stars.

This isn't a story about Victor Herbert - it's a romance between two musical-comedy with Herbert's music and character as strong supporting players. The story is ok, but nothing outstanding - sort of a take on "A Star Is Born": she's a rising star he's big but on his way down. Pride takes the place in this where in STAR it's alcohol. Like I said, pleasant enough and the vocals are very good - my throat hurt at the end of the film from straining to music. Looking at his filmography - doesn't look like Andrew L Stone had much luck with biographies about composers: SONG OF NORWAY and THE GREAT WALTZ (remake). Primary reason to watch for me: one of the few and, actually, the third film role of Mary Martin - that was a treat.

Andrew L. Stone indulges his taste for musicals based on mildly outdated composers with this one. Walter Connolly plays the composer as half warm-hearted artist, half daring businessman. The story, though, is show biz all the way, as aspiring singer Mary Martin -- in her first speaking role in the movies -- marries matinee idol Allan Jones, despite the insistence of his manager, Jerome Cowan, that lady theater-goers won't yearn for a married man. He turns out to be right, and Jones' career goes into the tank as Miss Martin's explodes.... and then she quits the theater so he won't feel bad. It doesn't work.

Miss Martin is rather repressed for anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing her on the stage, and Jones was a good singer who looked good, and little more. It's carried by Connolly, who is around mostly to introduce songs and kickstart the plot; as usual, whatever he's given to do, he does it entertainingly. He wouldn't be around to do it much longer. Five months after this movie was released, he had a fatal stroke and died at the age of 53.

I cannot argue with other comments that the story line focuses more on the romance between the Mary Martin and Allan Jones characters, much in the manner of "Showboat", than on the life of Victor Herbert. But in the 1930's, would that have been a box office draw? Instead of the Life of VH, perhaps it should have been the Music of VH. There is an abundance of this.

For me, the thrill of the movie came near the end of the movie when Susanna Foster sings "Land of Romance". It has been over a decade since I caught this movie for a second time at a local 'old movies' theater. At first the audience was stunned; then it burst into spontaneous applause. I remember the shivers running up and down my spine. My trivia memory recalled the information provided to an inquiring public by a local journalist when the movie first came out back in the late 1930's. 'That note hit by Miss Foster was a far F above high C.'

She may not have had four octaves a la Yma Sumac but the then teen-ager certainly had a range!

This movie is one of my mothers favorites, a story not of the life of Victor Herbert but a fictionalized account of his impact on those who sang his works. Mary Martin shines and gives only a glimpse of the beautiful voice soon to be featured on Broadway. For those who doubt her range and depth of talent, her early work on Decca Records confirms the talent she possessed-how unfortunate for Hollywood that "The Great Victor Herbert" is one of the few times she was showcased in her proper element! The love story is a tearjerker with the old time happy ending engendered by the radiant Susanna Foster. I hope someday this movie is out on video so that future generations can see the talent only tapped in this movie!