Naughty Marietta (1935)

43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(583 ratings)

The first of MGM's phenomenally profitable Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy musicals, Naughty Marietta takes several beneficial liberties with the libretto of the original Victor Herbert operetta. MacDonald plays an 18th-century French princess who escapes an arranged marriage by posing as a "cake… More The first of MGM's phenomenally profitable Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy musicals, Naughty Marietta takes several beneficial liberties with the libretto of the original Victor Herbert operetta. MacDonald plays an 18th-century French princess who escapes an arranged marriage by posing as a "cake girl," a mail-order bride sent to the New World to marry a colonist. En route, MacDonald and the other brides are captured by pirates, but are rescued by mercenary Eddy and his roistering companions. To avoid marrying some lowly farmer or frontiersman, simon-pure MacDonald intimates that she is a woman with a "history," which makes her attractive to the glitterati of old New Orleans. Only Eddy sees through MacDonald's feigned "naughtiness," and in the end claims her for his own. The most memorable of the Herbert songs retained for the film version of Naughty Marietta was "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life", which remained one of Jeanette MacDonald's signature tunes ever afterward. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich
Written By: Albert Hackett
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Mar 8, 1935 Wide
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The comedy being insufficient to sustain this much footage, with no especially exciting action, provides serious handicaps.
Andre Sennwald, New York Times
Pictorially handsome in the lavish Metro style, the work tells its story in spirited, romantic episodes which catch your fancy quite independently of the songs and the music.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The score includes the parodist's favorite, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," and other numbers too annoying to mention.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A much underrated if not great film, Naughty Marietta features some particulary amusing supporting work by Harold Huber and Edward Brophy.
Emanuel Levy, Screendaily
Nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, this is the first of eight but not the best teaming of Eddie Nelson and Jeannette MacDonald.
Tom Milne, Time Out
The first MacDonald-Eddy vehicle, enormously popular in its day so somebody must have been able to stand this simpering duo.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
It's acceptable, I suppose, but it's nothing to cheer about.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

Beautiful musical numbers, a plot that was unbelievably but at least historically sound, and an ending that seemed a little out of place. In all it was a nice movie to watch on a Summer morning.

Cast

            Jeanette MacDonald as Princess Marie de Namours de la Bonfain "Marietta Fr

            Nelson Eddy as Capt. Richard Warrington

            Frank Morgan as Governor Gaspard d'Annard

            Elsa Lanchester as Mme. d'Annard

            Douglas Dumbrille as Uncle

            Joseph Cawthorn as Herr Schuman

            Walter Kingsford as Don Carlos de Braganza

            Jane Barnes
            
            Arthur Belasco
            
            Ralph Brooks
            
            Edward S. Brophy as Ezekiel Cramer "Zeke"

            William Burress as Bouget Petshop Keeper

            Olive Carey as Mme. Renavant

            Jean Chatburn
            
            Edmund Cobb
            
            Cora Sue Collins as Felice

            Harry Cording
            
            William Desmond as Gendarme Chief

            Billy Dooley as Marietta's Drunk "Brother"

            Mary Doran
            
            Tex Driscoll
            
            Mary Foy as Duenna

            Roger Gray as Sergeant

            Frank S. Hagney
            
            Ben Hall as Mama's Boy

            Edward Hearn
            
            Harold Huber as Abraham "Abe"

            Dr. Edouard Lippe as Innkeeper

            Walter Long as Pirate Leader

            Wilfred Lucas as Herald at Ball

            Marjorie Main
            
            Bob McKenzie as Town Crier

            Louis Mercier as Duelist

            Greta Meyer as Frau Schuman

            James C. Morton as Barber

            Jack Mower as Nobleman

            Edward Norris as Marie's Suitor

            Cecilia Parker as Julie

            Richard Powell as Herald

            Constantine Romanoff as Pirate

            Henry Roquemore as Herald

            Akim Tamiroff as Rudolpho Puppet Master

            Harry Tenbrook as Prospective Groom

            Guy Usher as Ship's Captain

            William Moore as Suitor

            Ed Brady as Mercenary Scout

            Kay English
            
            Patricia Farley
            
            Helen Shipman as Marietta Franini

            Charles Dunbar
            
            Delos Jewkes as Priest on Dock

            Jane Mercer
            
            Linda Parker as Casquette Girl
See full cast