kitablett This was Jeanette's favourite movie of all the films she made and rightly so. The third movie of Jeanette and Nelson, firmly making them a musical team in both the eyes of MGM and the public and definitely so, being the biggest box office success of 1937, worldwide !. Again , Nelson doesn't appear until about thirty minutes into the movie and it's more Jeanette's film than his, but he is at his most animated and both of their acting performances are just wonderful. More of a drama with romantic tragedy than an operetta with a lot of snatches of opera, quite spectacularly done. The one duet ,by these two, is probably their most memorable from any of their operettas, "Will You Remember?". They just sing it beautifully and, of course,in the absolutely moving and breathtaking ending of the film where they reprise the song.The song was also featured in Sigmund Romberg's brilliant Biopic , "Deep in My Heart" in 1954 and beautifully sung by Jane Powell and Vic Damone,but it pales compared to Jeanette and Nelson's version. Many may consider the movie sentimental but Jeanette said later in life, "What's wrong with sentiment, anyway ?" and I couldn't agree more and, with modern movies having the lovers jumping into bed all the time,it's lovely to see a true love story where the lovers make love in song. It is sad to see John Barrymore in a supporting role in his last major film appearance and looking so ill looking from his then alcoholism which would eventually kill him in another five years. However he gives a brilliant performance just the same.This really is the pinnacle of Jeanette and Nelson's teaming and all good vintage movie lovers will just adore this movie.

tacprc I just watched Maytime on TCM. Overall I feel that this movie is a bit too long and dull and the outdoor scenes (e.g., Maytime and Paris) are a bit too stereotypical and precious, but it contains two really strong musical numbers that saved the movie for me: the first occurrence of "Will You Remember (Sweatheart)" and the climactic "Czaritza" duet. Not only are the music and singing and orchestration great, but the acting of Eddy and MacDonald is very believable. Jeanette MacDonald looks beautiful in this film, and the costumes, scenery, cinematography, etc. are all first rate. I also enjoyed the reprise of "Will You Remember (Sweatheart)" at the end of the film, but for me it lacked emotional impact because the camera was not focused on the actors' faces. For me the message of the film as delivered by MacDonald to the young woman was a clunker as there was obviously a middle course. And finally the major plot twist near the end of the film was jarring. I can imagine several more realistic scenarios.

gkeith_1 This is a sweet movie. Color would have been way better, no matter all the reasons it first was supposed to be made in color then scrapped for economic reasons. It was started over in black and white.A bad message for women is to drop your career aspirations for a man. If the man dumps you or you dump him later, your career was an unexplored fantasy. When you are a drudge cleaning his toilets or raising his progeny, your hoped-for "what you wanted to be when you grew up" was all for naught. A man would not have been expected to give up his career for a woman. Barbara should have been told by Mornay/Morrison to pursue her career; perhaps Kip could have accompanied her on her travels -- if he really loved her, that is.Nelson and Jeanette great singers, as usual. The story was very sweet, if a tad villainous with the seedy-appearing (the Great) John Barrymore. The two composers did a nice job. Bing was buffoonish, yes, but his character had great faith in Nelson.Did Nicolai go to prison for the murder? Did he really give Jeanette her freedom? Did he commit suicide? At any rate, it looked like she would have to pay the rest of her life for her attraction to Nelson. Was there more than just kissing between Paul and Marcia? Did Marcia get pregnant and have to have an abortion like the star in real life? Apparently Nicolai was impotent. Marriage to him must have been like a prison term.

Nodumblonde Of all of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald's movies, this one stands out as having such a variety of beautiful music. There are opera songs taken from many operas as well as "ordinary" songs. You may not remember any of the opera songs but the title song, "Maytime," will never leave your musical memory once you hear it.Sometimes it's hard to "suspend disbelief" and not look at "actors" and "technique," but it's easy with this one. Nelson is very believable as the rollicking American with the gorgeous baritone voice and of course, Jeannette MacDonald in the role of a famous opera singer is totally on target.You keep rooting for them to get together and honestly, you won't know until the very end! Sentimentalists--watch this wonderful movie.