Maidgethma Wonderfully offbeat film!

Infamousta brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

fairweatherfan I first saw this movie as a Blockbuster rental with my husband and his late mother - 25 years ago. TCM aired it recently, and we recorded it and watched it on a Saturday night (it IS rather long, at 2 hours and 12 minutes!). I'm not a person who likes to watch movies (or plays, or TV shows) over and over again; when I was a young teenager my girlfriends and I would usually sit through THREE consecutive showings of a film - that must have "cured" me. After 25 years I did remember the highlights (even though my MIL did chat quite a bit during the movie), but I was surprised that I hadn't realized what a great job John Barrymore did! I had always considered him a bombastic stage actor, playing to the back rows of the second balcony. He is so SUBTLE and SINISTER in this. For this viewing I saw Maytime on a pretty-good quality Samsung wall-hung TV, but I truly would love to see it on the big screen, in a theater. The May Day scenes especially deserve that. The lack of color doesn't bother me, though it does remind me of Irving Thalberg's too-early death.

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.

ilbarone139 This is an excellent film. Star Cast, Victorian Opulence, Splendid scenery etc etc etc.Although not a big fan of the great profile John Barrymore One can see here what a performer he was. His minor dialogue, all performance visual as Silent Films, The expressions on his face told the tale. Possible spoiler you understand my reference to Pagliacci. Should have been done on stage.Eddy was very good hi baritone.The incomparable Jeanette MacDonald. Her voice mesmerizes us all. Beauty Clarity perfect diction.Herman Bing in a comical role was silly; however this was 1937, hardly known..I viewed this movie numerous times in the past and when Turner TCM shows all Eddy/Macdonald movies this is my ABSOLUTE Favorite.I can only give ten stars worth much higher status. Unfortunately Ms. MacDonald died to young approximately 62. I am sure her husband Gene Raymond would concur.If you have opportunity to view this film do not hesitate your enjoyment would be unparalleled.