Outside of the Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy films (and perhaps one or two of the Grace Moore or Lily Pons movies I've seen), the greatest film to be set in the world of opera. It is very funny, filled with great melodies and a bit of irony in the fact that it's the same plot as "42nd Street" moved up closer to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, or wherever the New York City Opera was in the 1930's.
Taking over the role of the temperamental leading lady played by Bebe Daniels is Alice Brady who was the foolish society matron in the same year's "Gold Diggers of 1935", here a very untalented and spiky opera star whose ego is beyond the size of any star in the galaxy. She walks out of a performance of a local opera and decides that she's going to open her own company, and is none too pleased when she discovers that someone has put Virginia Bruce in the leading role. She's agreed on Lawrence Tibbet as the male lead, and in a very light-hearted performance, Tibbet goes from one leading role to another, nearly exhausting his voice to appease the harridan Brady.
Fans of the Tex Avery cartoons will recognize his version of "Figaro" where the cartoon opera star was heard shouting out "Hey Figaro!" in frustration of the magic happening while he sings. I'm not great at recognizing opera solos or areas, but I did recognize that and "Carmen". The staging for each number is perfect, and in some cases, burlesqued opera without ridiculing it.
Classic movie fans will also recognize many famous character actors, including two Academy Award winners of the future, Walter Brennan and Jane Darwell, and Cesar Romero, Thurston Hall and Jessie Ralph of "San Francisco" as the charwoman. I was absolutely delighted in how entertained I was consistently, laughing and applauding and never rolling my eyes over corny jokes or long hair music that in other cases would have had dogs barking miles away. One of the great unsung musicals of the 1930's with award worthy performances by Tibbet and Brady.
Taking over the role of the temperamental leading lady played by Bebe Daniels is Alice Brady who was the foolish society matron in the same year's "Gold Diggers of 1935", here a very untalented and spiky opera star whose ego is beyond the size of any star in the galaxy. She walks out of a performance of a local opera and decides that she's going to open her own company, and is none too pleased when she discovers that someone has put Virginia Bruce in the leading role. She's agreed on Lawrence Tibbet as the male lead, and in a very light-hearted performance, Tibbet goes from one leading role to another, nearly exhausting his voice to appease the harridan Brady.
Fans of the Tex Avery cartoons will recognize his version of "Figaro" where the cartoon opera star was heard shouting out "Hey Figaro!" in frustration of the magic happening while he sings. I'm not great at recognizing opera solos or areas, but I did recognize that and "Carmen". The staging for each number is perfect, and in some cases, burlesqued opera without ridiculing it.
Classic movie fans will also recognize many famous character actors, including two Academy Award winners of the future, Walter Brennan and Jane Darwell, and Cesar Romero, Thurston Hall and Jessie Ralph of "San Francisco" as the charwoman. I was absolutely delighted in how entertained I was consistently, laughing and applauding and never rolling my eyes over corny jokes or long hair music that in other cases would have had dogs barking miles away. One of the great unsung musicals of the 1930's with award worthy performances by Tibbet and Brady.