New Moon (1940)

Nelson and Jeanette again, dressed up quite like they were in Naughty Marietta.

Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald.  A weak plot way too reminiscent of Naughty Marietta but worse.  There are a few good scenes (I love sarcasm and always have and there's a good bit here), but very few good songs and Jeanette MacDonald never could seem to figure out what part she was supposed to be playing.  I like the scenes where Nelson is acting rather the uppity footmen (serving chocolate-te he).  Forget "Shoes to Shine" which butchers the clever/snotty lyrics of "Gorgeous Alexander" from the original play [don't despair--I have recordings of the "original" song with Nelson and more], but listen (over Jeanette MacDonald's talking) to "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise".  Beautiful.  Also, Nelson is at his heaviest, a fact he emphasizes by complaining about the possibility of starvation at every opportunity.  Eddy was reputed to have thought this movie a loser (and, generally,  I agree) and, since he was constantly at outs with Mayer, I wouldn't be surprised if Nelson put on weight because he was supposed to be "starving" just to irritate Mayer [strictly my opinion].  The ending is among the world's lamest.  **

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