Maytime (1937)
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75% of users liked it
(436 ratings)
The third of MGM's profitable Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy songfests, Maytime opens in the early 20th century, with a young girl arguing with her boyfriend over her wishes to become an opera singer. The girl's neighbor, a lonely old woman whom we gradually recognize as a convincingly… More The third of MGM's profitable Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy songfests, Maytime opens in the early 20th century, with a young girl arguing with her boyfriend over her wishes to become an opera singer. The girl's neighbor, a lonely old woman whom we gradually recognize as a convincingly "aged" Jeanette MacDonald, tells the girl of her own career in opera. The old lady was once the radiant young diva Marcia Mornay. In 1868 she was the toast of Europe, thanks to the tutelage of her voice instructor Nikolai Nazarov (John Barrymore). He proposes marriage, and Marcia accepts, more out of gratitude than love. In a euphoric pre-nuptial state, Marcia finds herself on Paris' Left Bank, where she meets handsome café crooner Paul Allison (Nelson Eddy). They meet again at a lavish Maytime festival, falling in love (to the accompaniment of Sigmund Romberg's most dazzling duets) in the process. Sadly, Marcia returns to Nazarov, while Paul goes off to America to lick his wounds. Seven years later, Marcia, making her New York debut in a fictional opera based on the works of Tchaikovsky, finds that the leading baritone is none other than Paul. Unable to envision life without her new love, Marcia begs Nazarov for a divorce. He smiles slyly and promises to give her her freedom-whereupon he heads to Paul's apartment and kills the poor fellow. The flashback done, Marcia advises her pretty young neighbor that one can never have both love and a career. Out of tragedy grows the happy ending, in which the spirit of the now-deceased Marcia is reunited with Paul in a blossom-filled Hereafter. On paper, Maytime may seem to be the ultimate in Hoke, but even in recent revival showings the film never fails to cast its spell over an audience. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Z. Leonard
- Written By
- Noel Langley
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1937 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Beautifully designed MacDonald-Eddy vehicle with the bonus of John Barrymore.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jeanette MacDonald
as Marcia Morney/Miss Morrison
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Nelson Eddy
as Paul Allison
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John Barrymore
as Nicolai Nazaroff
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Herman Bing
as August Archipenko
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Tom Brown
as Kip Stuart
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Lynne Carver
as Barbara Roberts
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Rafaela Ottiano
as Ellen
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Charles Judels
as Cabby
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Paul Porcasi
as Composer Trentini
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Sig Rumann
as Fanchon
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Walter Kingsford
as Rudyard
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Edgar Norton
as Secretary
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Guy Bates Post
as Emperor Louis Napoleon
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Anna Demetrio
as Mme. Fanchon
- Agostino Borgato
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Barlowe Borland
as Stage Doorman
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Harlan Briggs
as Bearded Director
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Maurice Cass
as Opera House Manager
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Iphigenie Castiglioni
as Empress Eugenie
- Allen Cavan
- Luke Cosgrave
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Paul Cremonesi
as Opera Critic
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Guy D'Ennery
as Aide
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Don Cossack Chorus
as Singer
- Sarah Edwards
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Frank Elliott
as Aide
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Robert C. Fischer
as Opera Director
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Christian J. Frank
as Gendarme
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Billy Gilbert
as Drunk in Cafe
- Fred Graham
- Arthur Stuart Hull
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Harry Hayden
as Opera Director
- Grace Hayle
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Howard Hickman
as Opera Director
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Russell Hicks
as Monsieur Bulliet
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Brandon Hurst
as Master of Ceremonies
- Sidney Jarvis
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Hans Joby
as Doctor
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Claude King
as Noble
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Leonid Kinskey
as Student in Bar
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Adia Kuznetzoff
as Dubrovsky Czaritza's Minister, Student i...
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John Le Sueur
as Maypole Dancer
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Ivan Lebedeff
as Empress' Dinner Companion
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Gus Leonard
as Concierge
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George London
as "Les Huguenots" Chorus
- Eric Lonsdale
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Jacques Lory
as Drunk
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Belle Mitchell
as Maid
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Alberto Morin
as Student
- Jack Murphy
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Forbes Murray
as Aide
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Helen Parrish
as "Merry Month of May" Singers
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Albert Pollet
as Cabbie
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Frank Puglia
as Orchestra Conductor
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Charles Requa
as Stage Manager
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Henry Roquemore
as Publicity Man
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Christian Rub
as Sleeper outside Cafe
- José Rubio
- Oscar Rudolph
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Frank Sheridan
as O'Brien a Director
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Bernard Suss
as Assistant Manager
- Bobby Watson
- Delmar Watson
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Paul Weigel
as Prompter
- Ben Welden
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Clarence H. Wilson
as Waiter
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Ian Wolfe
as Court Official
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Douglas Wood
as Massilon Hotel Manager
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Armand "Curly" Wright
as Bow-and-Arrow Stand Man
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Frank O'Connor
as Servant
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Pat Somerset
as Gossiper
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Joan Breslau
as Queen of the May
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Mariska Aldrich
as Opera Contralto
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Harold Entwistle
as Roues
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Francisco Maran
as Gendarme
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Alexander Schoenberg
as French Proprietor
- Buster Slaven
- Blair Davies
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Herta Lind
as Peasant
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Genaro Spagnoli
as Chef
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George Davis
as Usher
