Jeanette MacDonald

Jeanette MacDonald

Born: June 18, 1903
Died: January 14, 1965
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jeanette MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (Love Me Tonight, The Merry Widow) and Nelson Eddy (Naughty Marietta, Rose-Marie, and Maytime). During the 1930s and 1940s she starred in 29 feature films, four nominated for Best Picture Oscars (The Love Parade, One Hour with You, Naughty Marietta and San Francisco), and recorded extensively, earning three gold records. She later appeared in grand opera, concerts, radio, and television. MacDonald was one of the most influential sopranos of the 20th century, introducing grand opera to movie-going audiences and inspiring a generation of singers.

Movies for Jeanette MacDonald...

That's Entertainment! III
Title: That's Entertainment! III
Character: (archive footage)
Released: July 1, 1994
Type: Movie
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929 to Brigadoon, from the first musical talkies to Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.
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Nelson and Jeanette: America's Singing Sweethearts
Title: Nelson and Jeanette: America's Singing Sweethearts
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 1992
Type: Movie
A look at the screen triumphs and private lives of the screen's number-one singing team.
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Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Title: Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Character: (archive footage)
Released: June 4, 1990
Type: Movie
This tribute to Myrna Loy is organized chronologically with a few photographs, many film clips, a handful of personal appearances, and a detailed commentary delivered on camera by Kathleen Turner. Turner walks us through Loy's career as a dancer and an actress miscast as an exotic. She comes into her own as a grown-up women: shrewd, funny, decorous, and sexy - in "Manhattan Melodrama" and "The Thin Man." Her volunteer work during World War II, later stage work, and progressive politics come in for admiration as well. It's her style - seen best in her roles as a wife of charm and independence - that's captured and celebrated here.
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Title: James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: November 22, 1988
Type: Movie
Documentary about James Stewart's long career as an actor and positive personal life.
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The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
Title: The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 9, 1986
Type: Movie
In this tribute to her frequent co-star and longtime love, Katharine Hepburn hosts a behind-the-scenes look at Spencer Tracy's personal and professional life that features intimate personal accounts, interviews and clips from his most acclaimed work on the silver screen.
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That's Entertainment, Part II
Title: That's Entertainment, Part II
Character: (archive footage)
Released: May 16, 1976
Type: Movie
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Title: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: August 6, 1975
Type: Movie
Period music, film clips and newsreel footage combined into a visual exploration of the American entertainment industry during the Great Depression.
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That's Entertainment!
Title: That's Entertainment!
Character: (archive footage)
Released: June 21, 1974
Type: Movie
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
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The Love Goddesses
Title: The Love Goddesses
Character: (archive footage)
Released: March 3, 1965
Type: Movie
This insightful documentary features some of the major and most beautiful actresses to grace the silver screen. It shows how the movie industry changed its depiction of sex and actresses' portrayal of sex from the silent movie era to the present. Classic scenes are shown from the silent movie 'True Heart Susie,' starring Lillian Gish, to 'Love Me Tonight' (1932), blending sex and sophistication, starring Jeanette MacDonald (pre-Nelson Eddy), and to Elizabeth Taylor in 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), plus much , much more.
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Title: This Is Your Life
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1952
Type: TV
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience, including special guest appearances by colleagues, friends and family. Edwards revived the show in 1971-72, while Joseph Campanella hosted a version in 1983. Edwards returned for some specials in the late 1980s, before his death in 2005. The show originated as a radio show on NBC Radio airing from 1948 to 1952.
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Title: Lux Video Theatre
Character: Self
Released: October 2, 1950
Type: TV
Lux Video Theatre is an American anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1959. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.
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Title: What's My Line?
Character: Self - Mystery Guest
Released: February 2, 1950
Type: TV
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
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The Sun Comes Up
Title: The Sun Comes Up
Character: Helen Lorfield Winter
Released: May 12, 1949
Type: Movie
Set in the rural south of the United States, a bereaved war widow learns to put aside her bitterness and grief as she grows to love a young orphan boy and his dog.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Three Daring Daughters
Title: Three Daring Daughters
Character: Louise Rayton Morgan
Released: February 12, 1948
Type: Movie
Three young girls try to help their divorced mother find the right husband.
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Follow the Boys
Title: Follow the Boys
Character: Jeanette MacDonald
Released: May 5, 1944
Type: Movie
During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.
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Cairo
Title: Cairo
Character: Marcia Warren
Released: August 17, 1942
Type: Movie
Reporter Homer Smith accidently draws Marcia Warren into his mission to stop Nazis from bombing Allied Conwoys with robot-planes.
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I Married an Angel
Title: I Married an Angel
Character: Anna / Brigitta
Released: July 9, 1942
Type: Movie
A playboy drops his many girlfriends when he falls in love with a grounded angel.
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Smilin' Through
Title: Smilin' Through
Character: Kathleen / Moonyean Clare
Released: October 1, 1941
Type: Movie
John Carteret has long been depressed and lonely, because, at his wedding years ago, his bride, Moonyean, was murdered. He accepts into his house Kathleen, the 5 year old orphaned niece of Moonyean, and she quickly grows up to look just like her aunt. Kathleen meets and falls in love with a mysterious stranger from America, Kenneth Wayne. When John hears of this he is furious, and we learn that it was Kenneth's father, Jeremy, who had killed Moonyean years before. John carries his grudge against Jeremy to the new generation, and threatens to ruin his niece's happiness, but he softens in the end.
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Bitter Sweet
Title: Bitter Sweet
Character: Sarah Millick
Released: November 8, 1940
Type: Movie
In order to avoid an arranged marriage with a man she doesn't love, Sarah Millick runs off to Vienna with her music teacher, Carl Linden, whom she does love. They are married. In Vienna, they struggle to make a living by making music. Carl writes an operetta and tries to get it produced. They are helped along by Viennese Baron, but his intentions are not honorable. He kills Carl in a sword fight. A big producer does put on the operetta, with Sari in the lead -- but without her husband, it is a bittersweet victory.
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A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Title: A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound
Character: Self
Released: October 24, 1940
Type: Movie
This short documentary, presented and directed by MGM sound engineer Douglas Shearer, goes behind the scenes to look at how the sound portion of a talking picture is created.
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New Moon
Title: New Moon
Character: Marianne de Beaumanoir
Released: June 28, 1940
Type: Movie
A revolutionary leader romances a French aristocrat in Louisiana.
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Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Title: Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Character: Self
Released: May 29, 1940
Type: Movie
This short promotes the premise that movies often create a demand for the fashions seen in them. It starts with a vignette in rural America. A mother and daughter go to town to buy a new dress. In the dress shop window is a designer dress worn by Joan Crawford in a recent movie. We then go to Hollywood and visit Adrian, MGM's chief of costume design, and see how multiple copies of a single clothing pattern are produced. The film ends with short segments of several MGM features.
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Broadway Serenade
Title: Broadway Serenade
Character: Mary Hale
Released: April 7, 1939
Type: Movie
A married singer, pianist/composer team are struggling to hit it big in New York. Finally, they audition before a Broadway producer, but the producer only wants the singer, leaving the husband without a job and feeling a failure.
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Sweethearts
Title: Sweethearts
Character: Gwen Marlowe
Released: December 30, 1938
Type: Movie
Bickering husband-and-wife stage stars are manipulated into a break-up for publicity purposes.
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Hollywood Goes to Town
Title: Hollywood Goes to Town
Character: Self
Released: July 7, 1938
Type: Movie
This short shows how Hollywood gets ready for the world premiere of an "important" movie. The film celebrated here is Marie Antoinette (1938), which had its premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre. We see the street leading to the theatre transformed to suggest a garden that might be seen in a French palace. This includes the placement of trees and other foliage, as well as large statues along the route. Grandstands are set up so fans can see their favorite stars as they arrive for the premiere. Finally, the proverbial "galaxy of stars" arrives in their limousines. Fanny Brice and Pete Smith make remarks at the microphone set up on the carpet outside the theatre.
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The Girl of the Golden West
Title: The Girl of the Golden West
Character: Mary Robbins
Released: March 18, 1938
Type: Movie
Mary Robbins is a moderately educated, beautiful, young woman who owns the saloon called "The Poker". She is the only woman in the town of Couldee - making her the fancy of all the men there, especially to Sheriff Jack Rance. On the way to Monterey to sing at a mass officiated by Father Sienna, her stagecoach is held up by the infamous masked bandit, Ramerez. He too takes a fancy to Mary, and decides to secretly follow her, taking on the identity of an officer named, Lieutenant Johnson. While in Monterey, he dances, sings and courts Mary, who has now fallen in love with him. He then has to make a quick getaway. In the mean-time, Sheriff Jack has set up a trap to catch Ramerez at "The Poker". When Ramerez does arrive he soon discovers that Mary is the owner, and quickly changes to the identity of Lieutenant Johnson. How long can this charade last?
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The Firefly
Title: The Firefly
Character: Nina Maria
Released: November 5, 1937
Type: Movie
Nina Maria Azara is the beautiful and alluring singing spy for Spain during the Napoleonic Wars. Her mission is to seduce French officers, in order for them to reveal Napoleon's intentions toward Spain. She is sent to Bayonne, France to gather military secrets. Prior to this, she meets Don Diego while performing at a club. Unknown to her, Don Diego is actually Captain Andre, who is sent to Spain to spy on her. While in France, Nina discovers Diego's true identity, only after she has fallen in love with him. Nina Maria outwits her potential captors, returns to Spain and goes into hiding. Napoleon's troops invade Spain, resulting in Nina's capture. In a strange twist of fate, Nina and Captain Andre are reunited, but the 2 nations are now at war...
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The Romance of Celluloid
Title: The Romance of Celluloid
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: August 27, 1937
Type: Movie
Several behind the scenes aspects of the movie-making business, which results in the enjoyment the movie going public has in going to the theater, are presented. They include: the production of celluloid aka film stock, the materials used in the production of which include cotton and silver; construction crews who build sets including those to look like cities, towns and villages around the world; a visit with Jack Dawn who demonstrates the process of creating a makeup design; the screen testing process, where many an acting hopeful gets his/her start; the work of the candid camera man, the prying eyes behind the movie camera; a visit with Adrian, who designs the clothes worn by many of the stars on screen; and a visit with Herbert Stothart as he conducts his musical score for Conquest (1937). These behind the scenes looks provide the opportunity to get acquainted with the cavalcade of MGM stars and their productions that will grace the silver screen in the 1937/38 movie season.
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Maytime
Title: Maytime
Character: Marcia Mornay
Released: March 26, 1937
Type: Movie
An opera star's manager tries to stop her romance with a penniless singer.
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San Francisco
Title: San Francisco
Character: Mary Blake
Released: June 26, 1936
Type: Movie
A beautiful singer and a battling priest try to reform a Barbary Coast saloon owner in the days before the great earthquake and subsequent fires in 1906.
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Rose Marie
Title: Rose Marie
Character: Marie de Flor
Released: January 31, 1936
Type: Movie
Opera singer, Marie de Flor, seeks out fugitive brother in the Canadian wilderness. During her trek, she meets a Canadian mountie, Sgt. Bruce, who is also searching for her brother. Romance ensues, resulting in several love duets between the two.
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Naughty Marietta
Title: Naughty Marietta
Character: Marietta
Released: March 29, 1935
Type: Movie
A French princess flees an arranged marriage and sails for New Orleans, where she is rescued from pirates by a dashing mercenary.
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The Merry Widow
Title: The Merry Widow
Character: Madame Sonia / Fifi
Released: November 2, 1934
Type: Movie
A prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in the country.
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The Cat and the Fiddle
Title: The Cat and the Fiddle
Character: Shirley Sheridan
Released: February 16, 1934
Type: Movie
A romance between a struggling composer and an American singer.
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Hollywood on Parade No. A-5
Title: Hollywood on Parade No. A-5
Character: Self
Released: December 16, 1932
Type: Movie
Stars Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier and Ken Maynard.
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Love Me Tonight
Title: Love Me Tonight
Character: Princess Jeanette
Released: August 18, 1932
Type: Movie
A Parisian tailor finds himself posing as a baron in order to collect a sizeable bill from an aristocrat, only to fall in love with an aloof young princess.
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One Hour with You
Title: One Hour with You
Character: Colette Bertier
Released: March 23, 1932
Type: Movie
Andre and Colette Bertier are happily married. When Colette introduces her husband to her flirtatious best friend, Mitzi, he does his best to resist her advances. But she is persistent, and very cute, and he succumbs. Mitzi's husband wants to divorce her, and has been having her tailed. Andre gets caught, and must confess to his wife. But Colette has had problems resisting the attentions of another man herself, and they forgive each other.
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Annabelle's Affairs
Title: Annabelle's Affairs
Character: Annabelle Leigh
Released: June 14, 1931
Type: Movie
After only 11 hours of marriage, Annabelle and her husband separate-not knowing what each other truly looks like. Annabelle is given stocks by her husband and told not to part with them. However she is an extravagant spender and is forced to give the stocks to her husband's millionaire rival.....
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Don't Bet on Women
Title: Don't Bet on Women
Character: Jeanne Drake
Released: February 15, 1931
Type: Movie
At a big party, Roger Fallon, now a woman-hater, right to the core - this all due to a failed marriage and disastrous love affairs - talks to Herbert Drake. Herbert who is happily married, bets Fallon that the next woman who walks into the room, whoever she is, won't let Fallon kiss her for 48 hours. Fallon takes the bet. Suddenly, a very beautiful and sexy woman walks in. It's Herbert's wife, Jeanne Drake...
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Oh, for a Man!
Title: Oh, for a Man!
Character: Carlotta Manson
Released: November 28, 1930
Type: Movie
Disenchanted opera star Carlotta Manson falls for ruffian cat burglar Barney McGann and gives up her career to marry him. But Barney grows disenchanted himself at being known as the husband of a diva and itches to get back to his life of crime and manliness.
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The Lottery Bride
Title: The Lottery Bride
Character: Jenny
Released: September 29, 1930
Type: Movie
Sundered lovers meet again amid tragic irony at a mining camp in northern Norway.
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Monte Carlo
Title: Monte Carlo
Character: Countess Helene Mara
Released: August 27, 1930
Type: Movie
A countess fleeing her husband mistakes a count for her hairdresser at a Monte Carlo casino.
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Let's Go Native
Title: Let's Go Native
Character: Joan Wood
Released: August 15, 1930
Type: Movie
The company of a musical comedy gets shipwrecked on a tropical island inhabited by a "king" from Brooklyn and his coterie of wild native girls.
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Galas de la Paramount
Title: Galas de la Paramount
Character: Self (from original version)
Released: July 31, 1930
Type: Movie
Spanish-language version of PARAMOUNT ON PARADE (q.v.), with new sequences of interest to Spanish-speaking audiences mixed with original- version sequences.
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The Vagabond King
Title: The Vagabond King
Character: Katherine
Released: February 17, 1930
Type: Movie
The story takes place in medieval France. Poet-rogue Francois Villon, sentenced to hang by King Louis XI for writing derogatory verses about him, is offered a temporary reprieve. His hanging will be postponed for 24 hours, and in that time he must defeat the invading Burgundians and win the love of the beautiful Katherine.
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The Love Parade
Title: The Love Parade
Character: Queen Louise
Released: January 18, 1930
Type: Movie
The queen of mythical Sylvania marries a courtier, who finds his new life unsatisfying.