If you are familiar with operetta on film and anywhere, you'll know that the story is not going to be its strongest asset. That is the case with Naughty Marietta where the slight and predictable story is the least memorable component about it. Nelson Eddy's acting did mature and became more natural later on, he does have a charm about him here and he is appropriately dashing but there's also the sense of not being entirely in his comfort zone. Naughty Marietta is a lovely film to look at, the costumes and sets are lavish and the photography is skillful and allows you to enjoy the production values properly. The score fits beautifully, and the songs are some of Victor Herbert's best, especially Ah Sweet Mystery of Life, Tramp Tramp Tramp and Neath the Southern Moon. Italian Street Song and Falling in Love with Someone are great too. The dialogue is not only smart and witty but warm-hearted and charming, never too heavy on the sickly sweet sentimental stuff. Naughty Marietta also moves quickly, is choreographed in a spirited and never leaden fashion and solidly directed throughout. Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald work really well together, her acting is better and more natural than his but their chemistry is sweet. They both have beautiful voices too, Eddy in particular has one of the best on-screen voices of its voice type, and their rendition of Ah Sweet Mystery of Life is hauntingly beautiful. You can not go wrong with having Frank Morgan and Elsa Lanchester in supporting roles, both give fine support. All in all, a real charmer, not entirely sure whether it's their best collaboration(that's probably Maytime) but definitely worth the watch. 8/10 Bethany Cox