Bitter Sweet *** (1940, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, George Sanders, Felix Bressart, Ian Hunter) – Classic Movie Review 11,324

Noël Coward was bitter: ‘This vulgar orgy of tenth-rate endeavour.’

Director W S Van Dyke II’s 1940 musical film Bitter Sweet stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, who are sweet in this welcome remake of Noël Coward’s 1929 operetta, but it is much changed and the Master was furious at what MGM did to his show.

Though there are all the advantages of Technicolor, a no-expense-spared American studio production, big Hollywood stars and treasurable support players, the lyrics and dialogue been re-written so that Coward’s wit and glow have gone.

Still, hey ho, the music is Noël’s best and the star team is delightful fun even if they are not perfectly cast and are overacting wildly. Oliver T Marsh and Allen M Davey’s Oscar nominated photography is an asset, and so is MGM’s handsome, typically meticulous production.

The lesser screenplay is by Lesser Samuels, unfaithful to the original story. Additional lyrics by Gus Kahn.

MacDonald plays Sarah Millick who runs off to Vienna with her music teacher, Carl Linden (Eddy), whom she loves and they get married. Carl writes an operetta and tries to get it produced. They are helped by Viennese Baron von Tranisch (George Sanders), but he has cruel intentions.

Coward commented: ‘It really is frightening that the minds of Hollywood could cheerfully perpetrate such a nauseating hotchpotch of vulgarity, false values, seedy dialogue, stale sentiment, vile performances and abominable direction. I had forgotten the insane coquetting of Miss Jeanette MacDonald allied to triumphant lack of acting ability. I had forgotten the resolute, stocky, flabby heaviness of Mr Nelson Eddy. This vulgar orgy of tenth-rate endeavour.’

Also Coward’s classic song ‘If Love Were All’ sung by Jeanette MacDonald, was deleted from the movie. Anna Neagle sang it in the original 1933 British-made Bitter Sweet.

in the cast are George Sanders, Felix Bressart, Ian Hunter, Fay Holden, Sig Ruman, Herman Bing, Edward Ashley, Lynn Carver, Curt Bois, and Diana Lewis, Janet Beecher, Charles Judels, Veda Ann Borg.

It was nominated for two Oscars: Best Cinematography, Color (Oliver T Marsh and Allen M Davey) and Best Art Direction, Color (Cedric Gibbons and John S Detlie).

MacDonald did most of her own horseback riding.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,324

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