THE FIREFLY
US, 1937, 131 minutes, Black and white.
Jeanette Mac Donald, Allan Jones, Warren William, Billy Gilbert, Henry Daniell, George Zucco, Douglass Dumbrille.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
The Firefly was one of the many operettas filmed with Jeanette Mac Donald at M.G.M. during the '30s. Often with Nelson Eddy, she appears here with popular singer Allan Jones (father of Jack Jones). Jones had appeared in such entertainments as A Night at the Opera. This is a slightly offbeat role for Jeanette Mac Donald who was generally demure - a Spanish dander during the Napoleonic Wars with the Mata Hari touch. She sings with vivacity and dances. Jones is a pleasantly stolid hero in the Nelson Eddy vein. However, he has the opportunity to sing The Donkey Serenade - which is probably now the best remembered feature of the film. There is excellent M.G.M. production of Rudolf Friml's operetta. Direction is by Robert Z. Leonard who directed a number of these films. The material and the style now seem dated - but if seen as historical pieces they are quite entertaining in their way.
1. The popularity of operettas in the early 20th century? Their transition to Broadway and then to the screen? 'Thirties expectations, styles, popularity of the stars? How are they seen now?
2. M.G.M. production values, sets and decor, costumes, black and white photography, gloss? The stars?
3. The popularity of Rudolf Friml and his musicals? Music, song.. operettas? Response to particular sensibilities? Operettas as musical art?
4. Operettas and their conventions: the sketch of characters. plot. situations., the insertion of songs and dances? The blend of reality and contrivance? Audiences willing to suspend disbelief?
5. The establishing of the Napoleonic wars and the Spanish setting? Spies, the military, counter-espionage, the danger of missions? Wits, disguises? Success and failure? The moral stances of the spies? Loyalty, deceit? The danger of love and relationships?
6. Jeanette MacDonald? as Nina Maria the Firefly? Her dance. song, the soldiers and her getting information and passing it on, her political contacts? Her suitors? The chance encounter with Don Diego - and its ironic consequences? The Donkey Serenade and her getting to know him? His accompanying her. falling in love? Her mission. her cover, contacts? Her decision to trust Diego or not? Her capture? The years passing and her gypsy work. the new encounter with Diego? The previous infatuation and leading on of Colonel de Rougemont? The second encounter? Interrogation. her plans for getting the information despite her capture? The bombardment, Diego's injury, seeking him out? Happy ending? The Mata Hari heroine?
7. Diego as hero, smiles, contacts. seemingly inept. his songs and The Donkey Serenade, scenes with the boy singing the song, romantic background, reality, the clash, meting Nina Maria again, the bombardment, the happy ending?
8. The background of the Napoleonic wars, royalty, military, the various personnel and their contacts with Nina Maria? De Rougemont and her use of the French military?
9. Her supporters. friends, the innkeeper, the contacts etc.?
10. Traditional values enshrined in operettas and their artificial styles -with a dash of spice?
