Le chant du printemps

An unashamed wallow in that era where true romance took the place of stark reality, where our 'lovers' never actually got that far, and everyone went around singing - this is my favourite MacDonald/Eddy film and is absolutely delightful from beginning to end. It has its funny bits, its sad bits, its achingly romantic bits, and a worthy villain in the wonderful John Barrymore. And of course the Singing Sweethearts are at their most appealing. Lovely ...

I remember as a young teenager, I had never heard of Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy.....then one late night, Maytime was being aired on television, I watched it and after that I would never forget who Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy were! I cried my eyes out and still do every time I see this glorious film. Everything about this movie is wonderful.....costumes, supporting cast, even the story line which is usually not too strong in McDonald/Eddy films. But, oh it's the music and those voices that will enchant you. This along with "Naughty Marietta" is my favorite of the McDonald/Eddy films. It was another time and another world when this type of film was popular but even so, Maytime will continue to enthrall you, touch you and make you weep copious amounts of tears. Especially when you hear..."Sweetheart, sweetheart, sweetheart. Though our paths may sever. Through life's last faint embers, will you remember, springtime, lovetime, May". Glorious!!

Because there was nothing suitable in the opera repertoire for a baritone and a soprano to sing together! And Romberg's music wasn't used because it was too expensive; practically everything in the film score was in public domain or composed for the film. Likewise, filming in color was nixed in a cost-cutting move (though, frankly, I can't imagine how this film could be any better in color!) Movie-making is all and always about compromise.

A little research into Herbert Stothart's tonal plan for this film will help you understand it better, if understanding the technicalities will help you appreciate it more. But just enjoy "Maytime" for what it is, not what it isn't. A lovely, opulent, romance treasure. Don't be afraid to like it!

This was the third movie done by the "Singing Sweethearts," and it is often considered to be their best. Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are in their element in this movie as two "star-cross'd lovers"; her as a poor rich girl, and him as a struggling artist. Together they face obligation, yearning, and revenge, all personified by a wonderful John Barrymore.

The music to this movie is excellent...ranging from a playful "Santa Lucia," to the climactic opera set to Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony. The achingly bittersweet lover's waltz "Will You Remember" and its reprise at the finale is a memorable tune that will have most music lovers humming it for weeks.

A wonderful love story for all time...the finale will leave many in tears. In fact, the finale to this movie is so poignant that many filmmakers still copy the same structure today.

For their third screen teaming MGM gave Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy the old Sigmund Romberg-Rida Johnson Young operetta Maytime which was originally on Broadway in 1919. They kept the libretto, but scrapped the entire score except for the famous Will You Remember duet which became one of Jeanette and Nelson's most beloved songs. In its place were some operatic arias and some public domain standards like Carry Me Back to Old Virginia and La Marsellaise. This served to make the musical part of the film tilted far more to Jeanette than Nelson.

But the plot is one of the most romantic. The film opens with a heavily made up Jeanette living as an old maid in some small town. Both the neighbor's daughter and her sweetheart confide in her. The daughter has been given a chance to study music, but that would mean uprooting herself and going abroad. The boyfriend is in love and wants to marry her.

Jeanette sighs and tells the daughter about her life that at one time she was a famous opera singer who's been living in obscurity by choice because she chose a career over true love. Of course we all know who her true love is. But she marries her manager John Barrymore and in the end Jeanette has cause to regret.

The movie's message about marrying for love is an odd one indeed to come out of Hollywood. That's one place where a whole lot of people including the two stars of this film sacrificed a lot of personal happiness for careers.

Actually in another film a year later, Jeanette and Nelson were a happily married singing team in Sweethearts. I guess the idea is you should marry for love, but if you're a singer hope your spouse can carry a tune.

Will You Remember got a second go around in the Sigmund Romberg biographical film Deep In My Heart with Vic Damone and Jane Powell doing the honors. But it's not half as good as when Nelson and Jeanette sing it.

John Barrymore turns in a fine performance as the rather tightly wrapped manager of MacDonald. For a man who was brought up in the bravura tradition of Victorian stage acting, Barrymore was capable of great subtlety in his screen roles. Watch his facial expressions, they tell you far more than any dialog will. Of course he out acts the two leads.

The other supporting performance of note is Herman Bing as Nelson Eddy's sidekick/music teacher. Maybe if Jeanette had studied with him things would have turned out better.

When the flashback sequence opens Jeanette and Barrymore are going to a palace ball where she sings for Emperor Louis Napoleon, Les Filles Des Cadiz. That sequence was later seen in Jeanette's later starring film Cairo where she plays a movie star stranded in Cairo. It was a most requested item in later concert performances.

For romantics at heart and of all ages Maytime is a must see film for you.