Jeanette MacDonald
Biography
Jeanette MacDonald was an American actress and soprano known for 1930s musical films. Born in Philadelphia in 1903, she trained as a dancer and performed in juvenile operas and recitals before working in Broadway choruses and musicals. Ernst Lubitsch gave her the female lead in The Love Parade (1929), a sound film with Maurice Chevalier, and the two also appeared together in One Hour with You (1932), Love Me Tonight (1932), and The Merry Widow (1934). She teamed with Nelson Eddy in Naughty Marietta (1935), Rose-Marie, and Maytime. She starred in San Francisco (1936), and four of her films were nominated for Best Picture: The Love Parade, San Francisco, Naughty Marietta, and One Hour with You. Naughty Marietta took an Oscar for sound recording. Later she sang opera and concerts and worked in radio and television. Her film work and recordings each yielded a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
61years old at death
- Born Philadelphia
- Died Houston
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Also credited as Jeanette Anna MacDonald
Movie Career
- Films
- 8
- Career span
- 47 years1929 to 1976
Genres
- Romance88%, 7 films
- Comedy63%, 5 films
- Music50%, 4 films
- Musical25%, 2 films
- Documentary13%, 1 film
Photos
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Early training
Lehmann wrote that when MacDonald came to her for coaching, she expected a glamorous movie star spoiled by adoration, but found instead a diligent, serious and pliable person. Lehmann believed MacDonald would have become a successful lieder singer if time had allowed it.
A first
MacDonald's opera debut came in Montreal in 1943, singing Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. She then took that same role to Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor, and later made her U.S. debut with the Chicago Opera Company in it.
A role that slipped away
Richard Dix noticed MacDonald while she was in Angela and arranged a screen test for his movie Nothing but the Truth. The Shuberts would not release her from her contract, so she did not appear in the film.
A first
MacDonald's first solo-starring MGM film, The Firefly, had her name alone above the title, and she demanded that co-star Allan Jones receive equal treatment, including the same number of close-ups.
Jeanette MacDonald movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Ernst Lubitsch directed four of these films, W.S. Van Dyke two. Maurice Chevalier appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Maurice Chevalier's page
Bess Flowers's page
Clark Gable's page
Charles Ruggles's page
Harold Huber's page
Lionel Belmore's page
All films by Ernst Lubitsch
W.S. Van DykeDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1936
All films by W.S. Van Dyke
Also two films together8 more actors
- George BarbierThe Merry Widow (1934) and One Hour with You (1932)
- Charles JudelsSan Francisco (1936) and One Hour with You (1932)
- Tyler BrookeLove Me Tonight (1932) and Monte Carlo (1930)
- Sheila BromleyThe Merry Widow (1934) and One Hour with You (1932)
- Bert RoachSan Francisco (1936) and Love Me Tonight (1932)
- Joseph CawthornNaughty Marietta (1935) and Love Me Tonight (1932)
- Edgar NortonLove Me Tonight (1932) and The Love Parade (1929)
- Nelson EddyThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976) and Naughty Marietta (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.