Review of Naughty Marietta (1935) by Adrian B — 27 Jun 2009

Princess Marie de Namour de la Bonfain (Jeanette MacDonald) becomes upset when her prearranged marriage to a spanish Duke becomes imminent. Afraid that she would be stuck in a loveless union - she switches places with her maid, Marietta -runs away and disguises herself as one of the "casquette girls" - sort of mail order brides for colonist living in the Louisiana territory of the New World. Using the identity papers of the maid - Princess Marie manages to board a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans - barely escaping the frantic search for her by the King's soldiers.

The Princess soon finds herself in even more perilous straits when her ship is attacked and commandeered by pirates who hold the casquette girls as captives.

Hmmm...pretty interesting start there - in this musical/opera/drama/romance/comedy hybrid. The film differs from other musicals of the 30's in that it is more a throwback to entertainment of an even earlier time - the operetta. If opera is not your cup of tea, then It may take some getting use to having to hear soprano Jeanette MacDonald and baritone Nelson Eddy belt out their love for each other via operatic arias.

The story moves briskly along but rather tame in comparison to the pre-code musicals produced just a few years earlier - and why I much prefer, say Ernst Lubitsch's similarly-themed films (also starring Jeannette MacDonald) as much more fun to watch. The pirates never really had a chance with the casquette girls - not with the Hollywood censors on full watch!

Despite that, It's still worth a watch for the memorable songs - and besides - Jeanette MacDonald always looks great made up in her wonderful costumes.

Naughty Marietta was a very successful film with audiences and became what was the first of a string of films pairing Jeanette MacDonald with Nelson Eddy.