My grandparents are thrilled...

I bought this movie for my grandparents. I have never seen it but having it arrive in the mail to them after they searched and searched for it locally; made my grandpa cry.

Within Reason ~ The Perfect Ingenue

When I talk with people about prejudice. I remind them that blind rejection of someone who could become a very good friend is inane and self-defeating. The same can be applied to those "modernists" who reject the innocent and great movies of the 1930s to the 50s and even some 1960s, because "they ain't with it, man." They'll never know some great joys such as the grand musicals such as the great period love story about (in part) the democracizing of France as experienced by New World Travelers. The Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald movies are classic examples, from which many of the greatest American love songs have come. "New Moon," for example. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Sigmund Romberg? Untouchable!!
Point # 2: The "perfect ingenue" -- in my view -- must be dainty, female, of course, innocent --though "innocent coyness" in flirting is permitted, and modest in the old-fashioned way.
Ingenues must also be great singers, with preference to high sopranos, not mezzos. Cyd Charisses is too tall, Leslie Caron, too French, Doris Day too tomboyish in addition to not being a soprano. Eleanor Powell flashed her gorgeous gams too provocatively to be an ingenue. Maybe there ought to be a contest by Turner or Amazon on this. Anyway, this narrows the field down to 2: Jeanette MacDonald (New Moon) and Kathryn Grayson (Showboat.) My vote is for Jeanette MacDonald who is ravishingly coquettish, and THE perfect ingenue. In the early scene where the rebel duke in disguise is flirting with the pleased but guarded aristocrat, Marianne, he kisses her hand which delights her, surprises her and tips her a little off-balance. She says, "You're a romantic fellow, aren't you?," trying to maintain her poise. He replies Yes, aren't you? and in haste she replies, "Well, within reason." YOWSAH!

Is this not perfection? Jeanette has the title. This movie has some of the wittiest dialogue you'll ever hear. Arguements?
See this great, fetching, classic musical love-story and enjoy.

Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald

This film was made in 1940 when Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald were at their peak. Both singers could emote. They didn't need to swallow the microphone as they do today, with their thin, breathy style of singing, depending upon technology to be heard.

The story revolves around a French Duke who, during the revolution, gives up his title, frees his bonded servants, and heads for New Orleans by ship, posing as a servant(footman). On the voyage he meets Jeanette McDonald, where a love/hate relationship develops. He is sold as a slave,takes over the ship, is shipwrecked on an uncharted tropical island, and their relationship takes the inevitable course.

This is a musical, and so McDonald and Eddy regale us with several songs. it is no wonder that they were such popular singers. They actually harmonized, in those days. Refreshing, indeed.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of The Descendants of Thomas Pier
and other books