"Sweethearts" is the fifth of eight musical films MGM made with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. They are a delight as a madly in love couple of Broadway stars who have been in the same hit show now for six years. A disclaimer in the credits refers to an early 20th century Broadway play by the same name, but says this film is not based on that one or its cast.
The opening of this film is clever, amusing and interesting. It's a night scene with views along Broadway that then show individual neon signs advertising various plays. The Music Box display reads, "George M. Cohan in I'd Rather Be Right. Second Year." The next sign is of the Shubert Theater, and reads, "Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Idiot's Delight. Third Year." Next is the Broadhurst promo, "Helen Hayes in Victoria Regina. Fourth Year." The Forrest sign promotes "James Barton in Tobacco Road. Fifth Year." Finally a sign of Melody Theatre reads, "Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane - Sweethearts. A Felix Lehman Production. SIXTH triumphant YEAR."
This was MGM's first color feature film, and after this, the studio that became known for its musicals, would make most of its lavish musicals in technicolor. The movie was nominated for two Academy awards, and received an honorary Oscar for its color filming.
The plot is quite simple, with a couple of twists, and a tremendous cast of supporting actors fill out this film - almost all, for humor. It's not a film of clever dialog, but humorous antics and situations. Just look at this list of players - Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, Mischa Auer, Reginald Gardiner, Herman Bing, George Barbier, Berton Churchill and Raymond Walburn.
Morgan is Felix Lehman, and he and his cohorts and staff hope to continue to milk the cash cow of his great hit, "Sweethearts." MacDonald and Eddy are the happily married Lanes - Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane. They are celebrating their sixth anniversary along with the anniversary of their hit show. But their lives have become so full and busy that they hardly have time alone together. Her mother (played by Lucile Watson) and other relatives from both sides live with them in their huge mansion. Both sides all come from the theater. Reginald Gardiner is Norman Trumpett, once a Broadway performer and producer who now works as a major talent scout for Hollywood. He has robbed Broadway of many a star for the cinema in recent years, and now Lehman and company are worried that he may lure their Sweetheart stars away.
Indeed, Gwen and Ernest are beginning to pine for time together, and quiet and much less hectic schedules. Well, one can guess where this might go, but does it? Trumpett makes a good pitch to the couple about the much easier schedules in Hollywood - some very misleading statements and outright fibs about films just shooting scenes once and then they're done and have lots of time for relaxing and leisure. Then Lehman's cohorts cook up some shenanigans to thwart the couple's plans to move to Hollywood. Now their love is in jeopardy. How will it end up?
How it ends up is a very enjoyable film, fun with some funny parts, and some marvelous singing by two of the great musicals stars of the cinema. The music is almost all within the context of the stage play of the same name as the movie. The film audience has some theater views as though viewers are in the theater watching the stage performance. The artistic use of lavish curtains during some of the scenes is impressive and serves to enhance the numbers.
There aren't any great musical numbers. But the singing, the warmth and chemistry between the two leads, and the fun and simple plot overall make this a very enjoyable film. Those who enjoy musicals especially, and many others should enjoy this film.
Frank Morgan's Lehman has the best lines in the film. He wins over the Sweetheart couple by playing the "woe is me" role a couple of times. These get laughs in how simply and ridiculously gullible the two stars are as they fall for Lehman's ruse. The first time he says pitiably, "But most successful people are selfish, and I'm glad you are selfish." The second time he says, "I'm an old man and I don't get many pleasures, but you go ahead. Just think about yourselves. Forget about me." I defy anyone not to laugh or chuckle at how the two stars are sucked in by this.
The best line in the film is earlier, also by Lehman. Worrying about the lure of the film industry, he says, "Oh, I wish they'd push Hollywood another 50 miles West."
The opening of this film is clever, amusing and interesting. It's a night scene with views along Broadway that then show individual neon signs advertising various plays. The Music Box display reads, "George M. Cohan in I'd Rather Be Right. Second Year." The next sign is of the Shubert Theater, and reads, "Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Idiot's Delight. Third Year." Next is the Broadhurst promo, "Helen Hayes in Victoria Regina. Fourth Year." The Forrest sign promotes "James Barton in Tobacco Road. Fifth Year." Finally a sign of Melody Theatre reads, "Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane - Sweethearts. A Felix Lehman Production. SIXTH triumphant YEAR."
This was MGM's first color feature film, and after this, the studio that became known for its musicals, would make most of its lavish musicals in technicolor. The movie was nominated for two Academy awards, and received an honorary Oscar for its color filming.
The plot is quite simple, with a couple of twists, and a tremendous cast of supporting actors fill out this film - almost all, for humor. It's not a film of clever dialog, but humorous antics and situations. Just look at this list of players - Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, Mischa Auer, Reginald Gardiner, Herman Bing, George Barbier, Berton Churchill and Raymond Walburn.
Morgan is Felix Lehman, and he and his cohorts and staff hope to continue to milk the cash cow of his great hit, "Sweethearts." MacDonald and Eddy are the happily married Lanes - Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane. They are celebrating their sixth anniversary along with the anniversary of their hit show. But their lives have become so full and busy that they hardly have time alone together. Her mother (played by Lucile Watson) and other relatives from both sides live with them in their huge mansion. Both sides all come from the theater. Reginald Gardiner is Norman Trumpett, once a Broadway performer and producer who now works as a major talent scout for Hollywood. He has robbed Broadway of many a star for the cinema in recent years, and now Lehman and company are worried that he may lure their Sweetheart stars away.
Indeed, Gwen and Ernest are beginning to pine for time together, and quiet and much less hectic schedules. Well, one can guess where this might go, but does it? Trumpett makes a good pitch to the couple about the much easier schedules in Hollywood - some very misleading statements and outright fibs about films just shooting scenes once and then they're done and have lots of time for relaxing and leisure. Then Lehman's cohorts cook up some shenanigans to thwart the couple's plans to move to Hollywood. Now their love is in jeopardy. How will it end up?
How it ends up is a very enjoyable film, fun with some funny parts, and some marvelous singing by two of the great musicals stars of the cinema. The music is almost all within the context of the stage play of the same name as the movie. The film audience has some theater views as though viewers are in the theater watching the stage performance. The artistic use of lavish curtains during some of the scenes is impressive and serves to enhance the numbers.
There aren't any great musical numbers. But the singing, the warmth and chemistry between the two leads, and the fun and simple plot overall make this a very enjoyable film. Those who enjoy musicals especially, and many others should enjoy this film.
Frank Morgan's Lehman has the best lines in the film. He wins over the Sweetheart couple by playing the "woe is me" role a couple of times. These get laughs in how simply and ridiculously gullible the two stars are as they fall for Lehman's ruse. The first time he says pitiably, "But most successful people are selfish, and I'm glad you are selfish." The second time he says, "I'm an old man and I don't get many pleasures, but you go ahead. Just think about yourselves. Forget about me." I defy anyone not to laugh or chuckle at how the two stars are sucked in by this.
The best line in the film is earlier, also by Lehman. Worrying about the lure of the film industry, he says, "Oh, I wish they'd push Hollywood another 50 miles West."