The Great Victor Herbert

The Great Victor Herbert

91 mins | Romance, Music | Dec. 29, 1939

In his last film assignment, portly Walter Connolly fills the title role (in more ways than one) in The Great Victor Herbert. Very little of Herbert's life story is incorporated in the screenplay (a closing title actually apologizes for the film's paucity of cold hard facts); instead, the writers allow the famed composer's works to speak for themselves. In the tradition of one of his own operettas, Herbert spends most of his time patching up the shaky marriage between tenor John Ramsey (Allan Jones) and Louise Hall (Mary Martin). Many of Herbert's most famous compositions are well in evidence, including "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "March of the Toys" and "Kiss Me Again", the latter performed con brio by teenaged coloratura Susanna Foster. Evidently, the producers were able to secure the film rights for the Herbert songs, but not for the stage productions in which they appeared, which may explain such bizarre interpolations as having a song from Naughty Marietta.

The Great Victor Herbert

91 mins | Romance, Music | Dec. 29, 1939

The Great Victor Herbert
In his last film assignment, portly Walter Connolly fills the title role (in more ways than one) in The Great Victor Herbert. Very little of Herbert's life story is incorporated in the screenplay (a closing title actually apologizes for the film's paucity of cold hard facts); instead, the writers allow the famed composer's works to speak for themselves. In the tradition of one of his own operettas, Herbert spends most of his time patching up the shaky marriage between tenor John Ramsey (Allan Jones) and Louise Hall (Mary Martin). Many of Herbert's most famous compositions are well in evidence, including "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "March of the Toys" and "Kiss Me Again", the latter performed con brio by teenaged coloratura Susanna Foster. Evidently, the producers were able to secure the film rights for the Herbert songs, but not for the stage productions in which they appeared, which may explain such bizarre interpolations as having a song from Naughty Marietta.
IMDb rating 5.6
Producers Paramount
Original title The Great Victor Herbert
Directors Andrew L. Stone
Writers Russel Crouse, Robert Lively, Andrew L. Stone

Cast

Allan Jones

as John Ramsey

Mary Martin

as Louise Hall

Walter Connolly

as Victor Herbert

Lee Bowman

as Dr. Richard Moore

Susanna Foster

as Peggy

Judith Barrett

as Marie Clark

Jerome Cowan

as Barney Harris

John Garrick

as Warner Bryant

Pierre Watkin

as Albert Martin

Hal K. Dawson

as George Faller

Richard Tucker

as Michael Brown

Mary Currier

as Mrs. Victor Herbert

Emmett Vogan

as Forbes

James Finlayson

as Lamplighter

Sandra Lee Richards

as Peggy - as a Young Girl