Sweethearts

1938

Sweethearts (1938)

TOMATOMETER

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

60%

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Movie Info

Contrary to popular belief, the Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald Technicolor confection Sweethearts is not based on the 1913 Victor Herbert operetta of the same name (though most of Herbert's songs remain intact), but a Dorothy Parker-Alan Campbell brainstorm about a popular Broadway singing duo, starring in a long-running production of Sweethearts. The early portions of the film take place during a purported presentation of the Herbert piece, with Eddy and MacDonald singing their hearts out and Ray Bolger providing comic relief. We then segue into a long sequence wherein producer Frank Morgan, celebrating Sweethearts's six-year run, insists that Eddy and MacDonald attend a lavish party, where the weary performers are called upon to continue singing throughout the evening. Hoping for a few moments alone after escaping the party, Eddy and MacDonald are besieged at their apartment by friends, co-workers, hangers-on and sponging relatives. Seeking peace and quiet, the couple agrees to leave Sweethearts for the comparative calm of Hollywood. But their entourage, fearing that they'll lose their meal ticket if Eddy and MacDonald leave New York, arrange to inaugurate two profitable road companies of Sweethearts by contriving to split up the loving couple. Cleverly sidestepping the sugary sweet sentimentality that one might expect from an MGM musical of the era, the delightful Sweethearts is hampered only by its overlength.

Cast

Jeanette MacDonald
as Gwen Marlowe
Nelson Eddy
as Ernest Lane
Frank Morgan
as Felix Lehman
Ray Bolger
as Hans
Florence Rice
as Kay Jordan
Mischa Auer
as Leo Kronk
Fay Holden
as Hannah the Dresser
Terry Kilburn
as Gwen's brother
Betty Jaynes
as Una Wilson
Douglas McPhail
as Harvey Horton
Reginald Gardiner
as Norman Trumpett
Herman Bing
as Oscar Engel
Allyn Joslyn
as Dink Rogers
Raymond Walburn
as Orlando Lane
Lucile Watson
as Mrs. Marlowe
George Barbier
as Benjamin Silver
Kathleen Lockhart
as Aunt Amelia Lane
Gene Lockhart
as Augustus Marlowe
Berton Churchill
as Sheridan Lane
Olin Howland
as Appleby the Box Office Man
Gerald Hamer
as Harry
Marvin Jones Darrin Smith
as Boy in Lobby
Dorothy Gray
as His Girl Friend
Emory Parnell
as Fire Inspector
Maude Turner Gordon
as Dowager
Jack George
as Violinist
Roger Converse
as Usher
Reid Kilpatrick
as Radio Announcer
Wilson Benge
as 2nd Valet to Ernest
George Ernest
as 1st Call Boy
Billy McCullough
as 2nd Call Boy
Lee Phelps
as Doorman at St. Regis
Pat Gleason
as Reporter
Ralph Malone
as Reporter
David Kerman
as Reporter
Jack Gardner
as Reporter
Ralph W. Berry
as Lawyer Twin
Rollin B. Berry
as Lawyer Twin
Chester L. Berolund
as Lawyer Twin
Leo Berolund
as Lawyer Twin
Mira McKinney
as Telephone Operator
Grace Hayle
as Telephone Operator
Hal K. Dawson
as Morty
Forrester Harvey
as Tailor's Assistant
Gayne Whitman
as Commentator
Margaret Irving
as Madame
Irving Bacon
as Assistant Director
Barbara Pepper
as Telephone Operator
Marjorie "Babe" Kane
as Telephone Operator
Jimmy Conlin
as Property Man
James Flavin
as Theater Doorman
Richard Tucker
as Man in Lobby
Edwin Stanley
as Man in Lobby
Edward Earle
as Man in Lobby
Philip Loeb
as Samuel Silver
Brent Sargent
as Man in Lobby
Betty Ross Clarke
as Woman in Lobby
Dorothy Christy
as Woman in Lobby
Suzanne Kaaren
as Woman in Lobby
Lulu Mae Bohrman
as Woman in Lobby
Hal Cooke
as Mr. Silver's Secretary
Jenifer Gray
as Mr. Silver's Secretary
Fred Santley
as Music Vendor
Don Barclay
as Taxi Driver from Bridgeport
Dick Rich
A.S. Byron
as Policeman
Ralph Sanford
as Stage Hand
Jim Farley
as Carriage Starter
Bruce Mitchell
as Stage Hand
George Cooper
as Electrician
Frank Mills
as Electrician
Mary Howard
as Chorus Girl
Joan Barclay
as Chorus Girl
Sharon Lewis
as Chorus Girl
Vivian Reid
as Chorus Girl
Lucille Browne
as Chorus Girl
Valerie Day
as Chorus Girl
Ethelreda Leopold
as Chorus Girl
Lester Dorr
as Dance Director
Anne Wigton
as Saleswoman
Dalies Frantz
as Pianist `Badinage'
Paul Marquardt
as Conductor of Marine Band
Paul Kerby
as Orchestra Conductor
Joe Devlin
as New York Taxi Driver
Toby Wing
as Telephone Operator
Cyril Ring
as Waiter
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Critic Reviews for Sweethearts

Audience Reviews for Sweethearts

There are some funny scenes, but mostly it's a boring drama with a lot of singing.

Aj V
Aj V

Super Reviewer

Sweethearts starring Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy is a very splended MGM muscial from 1938. This film for trivia info was voted the best film of the year by movie goers...not bad. Also it was the very frist MGM filmed in color. Jeanette & Nelson play a very much in love stars on Brodway. It is a sweet film with very lavish musical numbers telling a story of the couple getting courted on a possible film career and a misunderstanding....a lovely film!

Mason Williams
Mason Williams

Super Reviewer

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