METROPOLITAN (Fox 1935)
I find it to be a shame that Lawrence Tibbett appeared in only six films (1930-1936). His first, the Technicolor operetta, THE ROGUE SONG, is essentially a lost film. Only 23:29 minutes of footage survives, plus the complete soundtrack on Vitaphone discs. Youtube has a splendid reconstruction using stills from missing scenes. For this performance he deservedly was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award.
As to the other five, they vary in quality. METROPOLITAN I consider his best film, both in terms of his performance, the script, and for the film itself. It is a fun musical comedy with wonderful singing. It zips along, always engaging and enjoyable. Tibbett appears opposite Virginia Bruce, who more than holds her own as a singer want-to-be. What really keeps this film going is the plethora of wonderful character performers from full roles to bit parts. Alice Brady is superb as the egotistical diva-producer, who wants Tibbett for more than just a leading man. She was but three years away from earning her Oscar. In a bit role scene Walter Brennan and Jane Darwell delight as owners of a questionable roadside tea shop. Brennan was a year away from beginning his three Oscar winning streak and Darwell but five years from her Oscar. In addition we have George Marion as the overly emotional Papa and Jessie Ralph in a lovely two scene cameo as a cleaning woman, who takes to an opera performance. The dashing young Cesar Romero provides additional eye candy.
Tibbett sings the Toreodor Song from Carmen, Largo al Factotum from The Barber of Seville, and the Prologue to I Pagliacci. In addition he sings two popular songs, On The Road to Mandalay (one of his career signature tunes) and De Glory Road. (My only problem with the film is that the last two are sung back to back in one small living room set and seem to go on forever. One ought to have been cut and re-staged elsewhere in the film. This very long segment stops the film in its tracks, but it quickly recovers its pace.) Bruce provides a lovely rendition of Micaela's aria from Carmen and she and Tibbett sing a brief duet from Faust.
Richard Boleslawski, a director otherwise unknown to me, keeps the action and the comedy moving at a good clip. The cinematography and editing are top notch. Altogether a marvelous film. Sadly, as with all the other extant films of Tibbett, it has never been released on video. One has to catch a TCM broadcast or buy a dvd copy from a private seller. METROPOLITAN is not to be missed.
I find it to be a shame that Lawrence Tibbett appeared in only six films (1930-1936). His first, the Technicolor operetta, THE ROGUE SONG, is essentially a lost film. Only 23:29 minutes of footage survives, plus the complete soundtrack on Vitaphone discs. Youtube has a splendid reconstruction using stills from missing scenes. For this performance he deservedly was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award.
As to the other five, they vary in quality. METROPOLITAN I consider his best film, both in terms of his performance, the script, and for the film itself. It is a fun musical comedy with wonderful singing. It zips along, always engaging and enjoyable. Tibbett appears opposite Virginia Bruce, who more than holds her own as a singer want-to-be. What really keeps this film going is the plethora of wonderful character performers from full roles to bit parts. Alice Brady is superb as the egotistical diva-producer, who wants Tibbett for more than just a leading man. She was but three years away from earning her Oscar. In a bit role scene Walter Brennan and Jane Darwell delight as owners of a questionable roadside tea shop. Brennan was a year away from beginning his three Oscar winning streak and Darwell but five years from her Oscar. In addition we have George Marion as the overly emotional Papa and Jessie Ralph in a lovely two scene cameo as a cleaning woman, who takes to an opera performance. The dashing young Cesar Romero provides additional eye candy.
Tibbett sings the Toreodor Song from Carmen, Largo al Factotum from The Barber of Seville, and the Prologue to I Pagliacci. In addition he sings two popular songs, On The Road to Mandalay (one of his career signature tunes) and De Glory Road. (My only problem with the film is that the last two are sung back to back in one small living room set and seem to go on forever. One ought to have been cut and re-staged elsewhere in the film. This very long segment stops the film in its tracks, but it quickly recovers its pace.) Bruce provides a lovely rendition of Micaela's aria from Carmen and she and Tibbett sing a brief duet from Faust.
Richard Boleslawski, a director otherwise unknown to me, keeps the action and the comedy moving at a good clip. The cinematography and editing are top notch. Altogether a marvelous film. Sadly, as with all the other extant films of Tibbett, it has never been released on video. One has to catch a TCM broadcast or buy a dvd copy from a private seller. METROPOLITAN is not to be missed.