First I got confused. It wasn't clear to me that this was not the version of the story I had read about. Where was Frederick March? Was Technicolor really this great back in 1932? Finally I realized that I was watching the 1941 filmed version of the story.
Well, the Technicolor is still beautiful, although a bit overdone...as Technicolor always was.
This 1941 MGM musical stars Jeanette MacDonald, Brian Aherne, Gene Raymond, and Ian Hunter. It's an intriguing story line: A young Irish woman (Jeanette MacDonald) is in love with an American (Gene Raymond). The romance is opposed by her adopted father (Brian Aherne) whose young marriage was foiled when the American's father attempted shooting Aherne's character, but instead killed his bride (also played by Jeanette MacDonald) at the altar. The film does require a little bit more suspension of disbelief than most films, partly because of MacDonald playing both Aherne's young fiance and later his niece. If you can get past that, it's a beautiful story, although it seems rather old-fashioned for 1941.
Jeanette MacDonald is good here, and frankly I'm not a fan. I like old music...but not that old or style of singing. Brian Aherne is quite good here, as well, playing both a young man and an old man. Ian Hunter was almost always a fine addition to a film. However, Gene Raymond was a real disappointment. I just can't buy him as an actor, particularly in terms of facial expressions that seemed out of place. It's interesting to read the behind the scenes of his real life marriage to Jeanette MacDonald...and his bisexuality (check out his listing in Wikipedia, for example).
The film seems uneven. Some parts really impressed me. Other parts didn't. But I am glad to have watched it.
Well, the Technicolor is still beautiful, although a bit overdone...as Technicolor always was.
This 1941 MGM musical stars Jeanette MacDonald, Brian Aherne, Gene Raymond, and Ian Hunter. It's an intriguing story line: A young Irish woman (Jeanette MacDonald) is in love with an American (Gene Raymond). The romance is opposed by her adopted father (Brian Aherne) whose young marriage was foiled when the American's father attempted shooting Aherne's character, but instead killed his bride (also played by Jeanette MacDonald) at the altar. The film does require a little bit more suspension of disbelief than most films, partly because of MacDonald playing both Aherne's young fiance and later his niece. If you can get past that, it's a beautiful story, although it seems rather old-fashioned for 1941.
Jeanette MacDonald is good here, and frankly I'm not a fan. I like old music...but not that old or style of singing. Brian Aherne is quite good here, as well, playing both a young man and an old man. Ian Hunter was almost always a fine addition to a film. However, Gene Raymond was a real disappointment. I just can't buy him as an actor, particularly in terms of facial expressions that seemed out of place. It's interesting to read the behind the scenes of his real life marriage to Jeanette MacDonald...and his bisexuality (check out his listing in Wikipedia, for example).
The film seems uneven. Some parts really impressed me. Other parts didn't. But I am glad to have watched it.