NELSON EDDY AND HIS OTHER LEADING LADIES

Some may have never heard of Nelson Eddy and others may have thought he only did movies with Jeanette MacDonald. The truth is that he became well known when he starred with MacDonald in their first film together, Naughty Marietta (1935). They went on to make two more successful pictures, Rose-Marie (1936) & Maytime (1937). It was then that MGM decided to double their profits by splitting the pair up. Now Nelson Eddy would be seen in his own spotlight.

In 1937 he was paired with the already famous Eleanor Powell, in Rosalie. The combination proved for a popular film, but they both came from different universes. Powell was dubbed for her singing and Eddy couldn't dance like Astaire.

Again MacDonald and Eddy were reunited for another two films: The Girl of the Golden West (1938) & Sweethearts (1938). It was after these films that Eddy starred in one of my favorite films.

Let Freedom Ring (1939) came in a year so many other classics were born. Probably for such a fact, this movie is not very well known in our day. For the first time he was the main lead. Sure, he had a leading lady by the name of Virginia Bruce, but she came secondary to the big story. This was also the first time that America got to hear him sing some of his down to earth songs. It is patriotic and suspenseful. This film is a must see!

Another film of his made in 1939 was by the name of Balalaika. His leading lady was Ilona Massey who was a singer that he became interested in. Turmoil begins when he as an officer must go against her father and brother during the revolution in Russia.

For the third time the popular duo was reunited for two more films. These films were New Moon (1940) & Bitter Sweet (1940). New Moon is a much loved film among my family and revived some of the success that they had experienced in the past. Studios had begun to move onto war pictures at this time so they were separated again.

The following year, he starred in The Chocolate Soldier (1941) with Risë Stevens. This was to be another foreign opera setting for Eddy and is beautifully done.

Now it comes to their final film together, I Married an Angel (1942). With the onset of WWII and other important distractions this film did not reach their former glory. The script, in fact, had come up ten years before for MacDonald, but was rejected for its racy plot theme.

It was in this next film that Eddy was seen more for his acting abilities then his voice. The film was the ever popular Phantom of the Opera (1943). With a "killer" cast, no pun intended, he once again took his place amongst the stars. Another interesting fact for this film is that the artwork given to Christine, played by Susanna Foster, was made by his own hands. He had a true talent of all arts.

Knickerbocker Holiday (1944) was to be his next film. The originally story was an allegory on the Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal." When the story came to film it was watered down extremely for the era in which it was released. Though he had a leading lady by the name of Constance Dowling, it probably shouldn't be listed with the other romantic films.

Though he did not have a singing partner for this film, it is still worth mentioning. In 1947 he voiced in a Disney short Make Mine Music as "The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met." In this cartoon we get to see the expansive talent of Eddy. He shows off his range along with his different styles, including the lovable "Shortnin' Bread."

His final film on the silver screen was with one of his previous leading ladies, Ilona Massey, in Northwest Outpost (1947). The lead for the lady was actually reserved for Jeanette MacDonald, but due to her rapidly failing health she was replaced by Massey.

Well there you have it, the full successful career of Nelson Eddy made with those who may have stood next to him but looked up to him. He was a gentlemen, an artist, an actor and a first class American. We would all do well to admire his talent.