TWO GREAT SINGERS

Evening Star, Issue 22084, 18 July 1935, Page 1

TWO GREAT SINGERS

<. ' HAUGHTY MARIETTA' FOR ST. JAMES Haunting music of _ Victor Herbert, blended with thundering drama of the foundling of a great city, and with a delicate love romance running through it; such is ‘ Naughty Marietta,’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor’s spectacular translation to the screen of Victor Herbert s masterpiece, opening at the St. James to-morrow. Jeanette MacDonald, who never was more beautiful nor sang so divinely, and Nelson Eddy, _ young operatic baritone, who makes his debut as a screen hero with a performance that indicates he is on the screen stay, head an , elaborate cast. The story is staged on a spectacular scale. Huge settings, gorgeous costumes, and intense dramatic action embellishing such song hits as ‘ Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,’ ‘l’m Falling in Love with Someone,’ ‘ Chansonette,’ ‘ The Italian Street Song,’ and other immortal Herbert music. W. S. Van Dyke, directing, injected many deft touches of artistry into the romance of the French princess who fled to escape a state marriage, and found romance in a young English army officer. A specially elaborate cast surrounds the two principals, including Elsa Lanchester (Mrs Charles Laughton), Frank Morgan, who plays the pleasure-loving governor, Douglas Dumbrille as the stern French prince, and others. Miss MacDonald wears several elaborate costumes throughout the action of the picture in Paris ami Louisiana. Miss Lanchester, in a whimsical role which she plays deftly, is also elaborately costumed. Comedy is provided by Edward Brophy and Harold Huber as Eddy’s two sergeants, and little Cora Sue Collins (Baby Garbo) adds charm as little Felice. Other notable players in the great cast are Akim Tamiroff as the puppeteer, Joseph Caw.thorne as Herr Stumann, Greta Moyer, Walter Kingsford, Cecilia Parker, and Walter Long. The pirate capture of the ship bearing the Casquetto Girls, the great “ Marriage Auction,” the fight in the Everglades between scouts and pirates, the recapture of the princess, are among the dramatic highlights of the production.