Starring Jeanette MacDonald, Gene Raymond, Brian Aherne, and Ian Hunter
Directed by Frank Borzage
Music and Lyrics by various
MacDonald also continued to appear with other leading men during the years she starred with Nelson Eddy. She and Raymond married in 1937 and would stay together until her death in 1965, but this is the only movie they made together. This is the third version of the hit 1919 play. Earlier retellings included a silent film in 1922 and an early talkie with Norma Shearer in 1932. Frank Borzage remains best-known for his sentimental romances like Seventh Heaven and Bad Girl, making him the perfect man to direct the tale of a man who mourns his lost love for 50 years, only to see the son of her killer fall for his niece. How does this look today? Let's begin on the day of another long-lived English queen's anniversary in 1897, as John Carteret (Aherne) takes in his little orphan niece Kathleen (Jackie Horner) and find out...
The Story: Carteret raises Kathleen as his own daughter. He's shocked when she falls for the handsome American soldier Kenneth Wayne (Raymond) and orders her to break off their engagement. She tries to leave with him, but Ken realizes how much her uncle means to her. He returns after four years, but he's now crippled and doesn't want to burden her.
John hates Kenneth so much because his father Jeremy (Raymond) was a rival for his beloved fiancee Moonyean (MacDonald). The drunken Jeremy accidentally killed Moonyean when he tried to shoot John during their wedding ceremony, right before she said "I do." He's never forgotten her memory and badly wants revenge for her loss. It's his friend Reverend Owen Harding (Hunter) and Moonyean herself who finally make John understand he's built a life based on bitterness, and destroying his niece's relationship will only keep him from the woman he loves.
The Song and Dance: Sweet and touching, with truly glorious Technicolor. Jeanette's radiant as Kathleen and Moonyean; color always did suit her. The costumes are glorious, especially the amazing frilly 1868 hoop skirts for Moonyean and the women. The blue gown MacDonald wears really makes her red hair and turquoise eyes stand out. I also like Hunter as the kindly reverend who is there for John through thick and thin, and Aherne's not bad as the stern thwarted lover. Not bad aging makeup for the time, either, especially on John.
Favorite Number: Our first major number is "The Kerry Dance." It's initially sung and played on the piano by Horner, until MacDonald takes it over as we see an exquisite flashback of Kathleen growing up at John's home. MacDonald performs the old ballad "Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes" on the piano early on and the French "A Little Love, A Little Kiss" at the canteen in France where she meets Raymond. They also perform "There's a Long, Long Trail" with the soldiers. MacDonald performs another French song, "Ouvre ton Coeur," with the orchestra in the flashback sequence. She and Aherne later dance a waltz to it outside in their spot in the garden.
What I Don't Like: Despite the World War I setting, a sentimental romantic operetta probably wasn't what audiences wanted on the verge of another war. Many modern audiences may find this too mawkish or melodramatic. Raymond's better as the drunken Jeremy than he is as Kenneth, who really has little personality beyond his going to France and giving up Kathleen. Ironically, despite them being happily married in real-life, they have no chemistry, making Kathleen and Kenneth's relationship come off as bland. It also tends to get a bad rap compared to the exquisite 1932 version.
The Big Finale: Lovely melodrama is recommended mainly for fans of operetta, MacDonald, or those who also enjoyed the 1932 Norma Shearer version like I did.
Home Media: DVD only via the Warner Archives.
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