Louis B. Mayer, was not a good person. This can be said of many people. It remains, that it was his guiding hand, that made MGM, the greatest studio during Hollywood’s golden age. The Hollywood musical, was Mayer’s grand achievement. Maytime is one of those musicals. It features America’s sweethearts, Nelson Eddie and Jeanette MacDonald. It has for good measure, John Barrymore as the antagonist.
Maytime starts with an elderly Marcia Mornay, (Jeanette MacDonald), consoling Barbara Roberts, (Lynn Carver). She has had a quarrel with her boyfriend, Kip Stewart, (Tom Brown). Marcia tells her about her life. She flashes back to when she was a young promising singer. Her talent is brought out by Nicolai Nazaroff, (John Barrymore). The two embark on a European tour. It is during this time, that the talented singer, meets another vocal talent, Paul Allison, (Nelson Eddy). They perform a duet, Carry Me Back to Old Virginny. They of course fall in love. They culminate their feelings, with the song, Will You Remember (Sweetheart)? It is syrupy, but the sequence and the song are enjoyable. After this performance, and walking through a beautiful flower garden, Marcia realizes something. She can’t back out of marrying Nicolai. Her career and her word mean everything. She explains to Paul, and tells him to remember the day, before she leaves.
Of course, this is not the end. Marcia has become a successful opera singer. She returns to the United States, after touring in Europe. Her and Nicolai are in New York City. She is going to perform an opera, supposedly La Traviata. Her husband says no to this, much to the chagrin of the opera committee. He insists she will perform the opera Tsaritsa. The committee agrees, happy to have such a big star. As fate would have it, the baritone is a man named Paul Allison. The former sweethearts perform together, and realize the flame of love, still burns brightly. Marcia has never loved Nicolai, only his usefulness to her. They have been more like business partners, than husband and wife. Marcia confronts Nicolai, and tells him she is going to leave him for Paul. Nicolai seems to take the news well; calmly walking away. Shortly after this, he leaves to confront Paul. After the confrontation, the film goes to the present. Marcia manages to get Barbara to reconcile with Kip. She manages to get two people happiness she never had.
Maytime has a theme to it: success doesn’t equal happiness. John Barrymore is mainly in the background. He does have a good scene, when outwardly accepting Marcia’s shocking announcement. He is the perfect example of a rejected man, trudging in the snow to Paul’s residence. The movie has foreshadowing in the opera, with Paul playing the tragic figure. It also shows a celebration of spring at the beginning, with a children’s choir singing, Now It’s the Month of Maying. There are also some opera selections: they are appropriate, since the film is more or less, an operetta. Nelson Eddy does well as Paul singing the opera selections, in beer halls with his friends. Maytime isn’t really a feel good movie despite the title, and the charming songs. It does make one appreciate the beginnings of MGM’s musicals.