Rose-Marie (Rose Marie) (1936)

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(232 ratings)

It was standard operating procedure at MGM to cast their favorite singing team of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in new versions of old operettas, then retain only the music, drastically altering the plotlines to conform to popular tastes. This was the treatment afforded the Rudolf Friml-Herbert… More It was standard operating procedure at MGM to cast their favorite singing team of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in new versions of old operettas, then retain only the music, drastically altering the plotlines to conform to popular tastes. This was the treatment afforded the Rudolf Friml-Herbert Stothart-Oscar Hammerstein-Otto Harbach musical Rose Marie--and thank heaven that MGM decided to jettison the original's creaky libretto about a woman who offers her body to the villain to save the hero from a trumped-up murder charge (this chestnut seemed old-fashioned even in 1928, when Joan Crawford starred in the silent version). In lieu of this wearisome storyline, the Eddy-MacDonald version casts MacDonald as a spoiled, temperamental Canadian opera star who learns that her uncontrollable brother (James Stewart), serving a prison sentence, has escaped to a cabin in the North Woods and needs someone to tend his wounds. MacDonald travels to northern Canada incognito, where in a hilarious sequence she tries and fails to pass muster as a dance-hall girl. Upon meeting likeable mountie Nelson Eddy, who unbeknownst to her has been assigned to locate her brother, MacDonald fabricates a story about needing an escort for a rendezvous with her lover. Such latter-day parodies as Dudley Do-Right notwithstanding, the Eddy-MacDonald sequences are often deliberately played for laughs, even when Nelson is uttering such lines as "Heavy? Why, I could carry you for hours!" Gradually, Nelson and MacDonald fall in love, only to fall out of love when Nelson tracks down and captures MacDonald's brother. Despite this rift, a happy--and logical--ending is not long in coming. It might be hard to watch such Eddy-MacDonald duets as "Rose Marie" and "Indian Love Call" with a completely straight face; it is reassuring, however, to find out that the filmmakers knew that "Rose Marie" was ripe for ridicule, and decided to laugh at themselves first in order to disarm the audience. To avoid confusion with the 1955 remake, the 1936 Rose Marie was retitled Indian Love Call for TV showings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: W.S. Van Dyke
Written By: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Alice Duer Miller
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Feb 1, 1936 Wide

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
the movie is primarily for fans of the source material or the stars
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Charming version of the operetta. Perfect of its type.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Although the movie has some funny parts, and good drama at times, the music is annoying, and it's predictable. Stewart has a part at the end, so that was interesting to see. Other than that, it's just so-so.

Cast

            Jeanette MacDonald as Marie de Flor

            Nelson Eddy as Sgt. Bruce

            James Stewart as John Flower

            Reginald Owen as Meyerson

            Allan Jones as Romeo/Mario Cavaradossi

            George Regas as Boniface

            Alan Mowbray as Premier

            Robert Greig as Cafe Manager

            Una O'Connor as Anna

            Lucien Littlefield as Storekeeper

            David Niven as Teddy

            Herman Bing as Mr. Daniels

            Gilda Gray as Bella

            Ernie Alexander as Elevator Operator

            Agostino Borgato as Opera Fan

            Leonard Carey as Louis

            Aileen Carlyle as Susan

            David Clyde as Doorman

            Jimmy Conlin as Joe the Piano Player

            Edgar Dearing as Mounted Policeman

            John George as Barbly

            Fred Graham as Corporal

            Dorothy Gray as Edith

            Sam Harris as Guest

            Russell Hicks as Commandant

            Halliwell Hobbes as Mr. Gordon

            Louis Mercier as Admirers in Hall

            Milton A. Owen as Stage Manager

            Lee Phelps as Barfly

            Paul Porcasi as Emil the Chef

            Adrian Rosley as Opera Fan

            Matty Roubert as Newsboy

            Rolfe Sedan as Admirer

            Pat West as Traveling Salesman

            Jack Pennick as Brawler

            David Robel as Dancer

            Delos Jewkes as Butcher at Hotel

            Bert Lindley as Trapper

            Jim Mason as Trapper
See full cast