Maytime

1937
Approved
2h 12m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in Maytime (1937)

Play trailer4:04

1 Video

59 Photos

Classic Musical Drama Musical Mystery Romance

An aging opera singer looks back on her long life, including her relationships with her vocal teacher and a student.An aging opera singer looks back on her long life, including her relationships with her vocal teacher and a student.An aging opera singer looks back on her long life, including her relationships with her vocal teacher and a student.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

1.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 4:04

Maytime

Photos59

Top cast99

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Jeanette MacDonald

Marcia Mornay

Nelson Eddy

Paul Allison

John Barrymore

Nicolai Nazaroff

Herman Bing

August Archipenko

Tom Brown

Kip Stuart

Lynne Carver

Barbara Roberts

Rafaela Ottiano

Ellen

Charles Judels

Cabby

Paul Porcasi

Trentini

Sig Ruman

Fanchon
(as Sig Rumann)

Walter Kingsford

Mr. Rudyard

Guy Bates Post

Louis Napoleon

Mariska Aldrich

Opera Singer
(uncredited)

Bernice Alstock

Contralto in 'Success' Montage
(voice)
(uncredited)

Nick Angelo

Tenor in 'Success' Montage
(voice)
(uncredited)

Martha Bamattre

Lady in Bar
(uncredited)

Scotty Beckett

Maypole Singer
(uncredited)

Eumenio Blanco

Cafe Patron
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When filming began in 1936 (in color), the original opera finale was also recorded, staged and shot. This was to have been Act II of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca", one of the few operatic works with major roles for baritone (Scarpia) and soprano as equals (Tosca). It also allowed Jeanette MacDonald to sing the famous aria "Vissi D'arte". By the time shooting recommenced in black and white, this idea was scrapped and replaced with an elaborate fake Russian opera "Czaritza" created by Herbert Stothart to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, presumably to allow for a big Duet (in "Tosca", she murders Scarpia by stabbing him through the heart!). The rewritten story of "Maytime" presumably demanded it. Sadly, the Technicolor "Tosca" sequence does not appear to have survived, which is a pity as it would have been fascinating to see MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in a major operatic sequence and in color.

Goofs
During the ball scene, Marcia Mornay sings Les filles de Cadiz by Delibes at the command of the Emperor Louis Napoleon. However, the piece was not composed until 1874, whereas Louis reigned from 1852-1870.

Crazy credits
Opening credits are shown on the water and on the bark of the trees.

Alternate versions
Originally released in Sepia Platinum for Roadshow engagements, this was a process most famously used in the Kansas portions of 'The Wizard of Oz' and the Panama jungle scenes in 'The Sea Hawk'

Connections
Edited into Cairo (1942)

Soundtracks
Now Is the Month of Maying
by Thomas Morley, was published in 1595.
Very popular with madrigal groups.
First line, with 'fa la la' refrain, sung by children in park.

User reviews50

Review

Featured review

Absolute Joy!

Leave it to the greatest movie studio of them all, MGM, to deliver to the world in l937 this unsurpassed musical joy. While all the other movies were celebrating swing and tap dance and the Big Band sound, "Maytime" comes along and when it was released, it took the world by storm. Why? Because it shows how a powerful studio massed together all of its brilliant talent onto this film. Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy would never surpass their performances here. Adrian's incredible costumes for McDonald are stunning. The lush photography, set designs and decor of late l9th century Paris are mind-boggling. And of course, the unforgettable music. You listen again and again to the magnfiicent scoring and vocal arrangements and never forget them. The ultimate sequence is the fabulous "Czaritza" that comes towards the end. McDonald and Eddy are backed up by a fantastic Russian choir. The pre-production on this one movie is amazing. Years in the planning, it was originally begun in l936 as a Technicolor spectacular. But after Irving Thalberg died, Louis B. Mayer chopped the budget in half and demanded "Maytime" be shot in black and white. Whatever the outcome, this movie can enchant even anti-music lovers. Now, let's hope it appears on DVD real soon.