One in a Million I grew up in Nelson Eddy's time - saw him in person in Chattanooga in 1941-41. It was a real tragedy when I read he had collapsed on stage and died not that long after that. And Ilona Massey - when she flashes those eyes - Wowee!! Reminds me of Miliza Korjus in "THe Great Waltz" (with Fernand Gravet (as he used to spell his name)). And this movie is fantastic!! All the actors are great. All the scenes are wonderful. And the pathos in the Paris Balalaika scene, and when they are brought back together again at the very end! I could see the movie a hundred times. Hurray for DVD's!
Unbelieveable Performance of the Volga Boatment Song by Nelson Eddy This performer is so far before my time that I don't think I had really ever heard of him. Nevertheless, I have never seen anything like his rendition of the Volga Boatmen Song. It is the most powerful performance I have ever seen in a movie. I saw the movie accidentally on the Turner (Old Movie) Channel last month. I then bought the movie to be sure that I hadn't imagined it. I then researched Nelson Eddy on the internet. He was the most highly paid singer in the world for FOURTEEN years. He had a magnificent voice but it's also his interpretation of the songs. Anyway, as to the movie, the plot is about the Russian revolution and doesn't make a great deal of sense but the singing and the music is simply excellent. Nelson Eddy plays a prince. The female lead plays the revolutionary. She is quite beautiful and can also sing beautifully but she can't really hold her own with Nelson Eddy. He was truly an amazing talent. If you like good music and great voices you will thoroughly enjoy this movie.
Great Musical Perfornance by Nelson Eddy I happened to be at my neighbor's house when she had Balalaika on her VCR. Suddenly, Nelson Eddy sang the Volga Boatmen Song. Everyone and everything in the room came to a halt. We were witnessing a great performance and we all knew it. Amazing voice, superb performance. I hadn't known who he was, I thought he was just a faded long ago matinee idol. Not so. He was absolutely brilliant. I am going to buy his movies now. What a splendid performer. (We kept re-winding the tape and watching the song over and over, just unbelievable).
Voice doesn't get better than Eddy's I know there are beautiful voices today but I guess everything is relative. After hearing Nelson Eddy in this classic, well, there just isn't any comparison to other baritones - or even tenors for that matter. His rendition of almost anything he sings is superb and Balalaika's "Volga Boatman" is hauntingly well done. They just don't make 'em like Nelson anymore.
Just my two cents,
Born too late. --------------------------------- frequency nutrition infrared sauna Power Pops
A SLEEPER MUSICAL A rather underrated curiousity from 1939. Although the picture sumptuously deals with the ambiance of the Russian Revolution of the 191O's, the viewer learns very little about the historical events. As a musical, BALALAIKA refrains from commenting on the struggle between the nobility and the revolutionaries while making it the centre of the action. The irony and nostalgia of royal expatriates working as waiters and tailors is beautifully handled, although the conflict of the drama is never realised. This is not to say that the film is dull. It's richly mounted, excitingly photographed, and full of tender and funny moments. Eddy is in especially good voice and delivers some outstanding numbers. The stunningly exotic Hungarian beauty Ilona Massey proved to be a fascinating soprano with her vivid renditions of TANYA & MAGIC OF YOUR LOVE with Eddy. Why didn't her career fly? Unfortunately, Massey lacked the showmanship and warm personality of Jeanette MacDonald, plus she and Eddy had a decidedly limited chemistry between them. Too bad, because in my opinion, Ilona was one of the most underrated beauties of film. Always a defender of underrated talents in films, if viewers would like to view more of this gorgeous diva's work in three very watchable movies available on video, I would suggest the following: INTERNATIONAL LADY (1941) FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (1943) & HOLIDAY IN MEXICO (1946).
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
