Will the love story between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy be revealed?

[pastfoxy]

When is Hollywood going to finally, "get off of it" and reveal the true love story that existed between Jeanette and Nelson until the day they died? The book by Sharon Rich, "Sweethearts" has the interviews, comments and pictures that explore this wonderful love story that was doomed by MGM from the start. What a story these two famous actors lived behind the scenes. What controversy comes as soon as you mention they were in love. What a movie their story would make.

 

The BIG Question has been for years--- were they, "Saints" simply liking each other? Or were they, as the interviews show, "Sinners" that loved each other, with all their heart and soul, until death? My opinion makes me fall into being on the, "Sinner" side. What side are you on?

[cclowell38]

I read SWEETHEARTS, and personally, I think Miss Rich's claims concerning the "true" relationship of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are as valid as the proverbial "three dollar bill." Also, her overblown, overwrought, absurdly melodramatic writing style made me seriously question her credentials and objectivity as a biographer/researcher.

 

In my opinion the "true" story of MacDonald & Eddy (that the two were friendly professionals/co-workers but nothing more) was told in Professor Edward Baron Turk's biography on MacDonald, HOLLYWOOD DIVA.

 

Someone I know wrote to Professor Turk asking him why he hadn't used SWEETHEARTS as a reference source for his MacDonald biography and he sent a reply stating that after investigating her claims, he didn't find them very credible. Given that I found his book a much more meticulously produced job of research and I find Miss Rich's claims and approach to be too...fanciful, I'm definitely not in the "Sinner" camp. On the other hand, I've never really thought of Mac/Eddy as "Saints" either. Just as regular people who lived their lives as best they could.

[pastfoxy]

Well, well well.... I figured I'd draw out a Saint right away. You must have been sitting on a post nearby.

 

Oh, you have it wrong as the MacEddy group is the group of Sinners. They believe Nelson and Jeanette were in love all their lives. Your the Saint. You think Nelson and Jeanette NEVER were more than just friends. You think Jeanette glowed from the halo around her head instead of the fact that she glowed from her love to and from Nelson Eddy till the day she died.

 

Okay, Attention movie-goes of the world, classical movie lovers, let me introduce you to the controversy over Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald and the neverendingstory of different opinions between the Saint and the Sinners.

 

This is the story that, "adds to" and makes, "watching" Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy's movies a lot more fun. I invite the public to watch their movies on TCM in March and tell us what they think. Could they see that there was more to Nelson and Jeanette than simple acting? Let us know. A lot of controversy about these two people being just friends or friends and lovers too.

 

Well, First off, thank you for your reply. I want to congratulate you on the fact that you can read... then secondly, may I congratulate you on the fact you had the brains to read Sharon Rich's book. Good for you. Your smarter than I thought you were after reading what you posted. (You started with the slams against Sharon Rich, so I get to follow your lead, and tell you my opinion of you too. But then to write back, I have to lower my opinion of you, don't I?) Hey.... you started the slams... if you can't take the heat...get out of the kitchen!

 

Yeah, yeah, and yeah. I heard all my life that Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, "Hated" each other. Everyone has heard that. Everyone heard that for years. Why?

 

Now, you say, they did not hate each other, but liked each other? Oh? Professor Edward Baron Turk had to write a book to prove they liked each other? This is a certainly different approach.

 

Who cares who liked each other, how anyone hated each other? It's life. It's no big deal, especially in Hollywood. Why do you think they have to do the romantic scenes immediately on any movie set? It's to get it over with in case they end up hating each other when they find out what the other person is really like. Happens all the time. Again, no big deal. Certainly no one writes a book because people like each other and get along, now do they?

 

Then why did the rumor start that Nelson and Jeanette hated each other if they liked each other? Hmmm? Why would we have any rumor at all if they liked each other, worked together on many films and that was all there was too it? Why would anyone have to come out in the defense of their "liking" each other? That does not make any sense. None at all. None. The reason I say this is because the statement that they hated each other started with the first movie they made together, while no one even knew who they were, nor the movie Naughty Marietta released. No one would care if they hated each other. So what? No one even knew who he was. Why spread this hated of each other over the world before the movie was out? Makes no sense at all if they simply were friends and got along fine, unless it was a cover up as they were falling in love and everyone on the movie set could see it. Since Jeanette was involved with Mayer, (as in Metro Golden) with Mayers taking his personal interest in Jeanette, seems there was good reason to cover up Jeanettes falling in love. (oops...did I hear Jeanette's halo clunk on the floor?) So, she was human, and a sinner now and then? So what? Who among us is without sin and can cast the first stone?

 

Thank God, there are more Sinners than Saints, or Sharon Richs book would never have outsold Turks book, which it did. Besides, I liked Sharon Rich's book. It was delightful, full of the love that Nelson and Jeanette shared. Turks book proved they liked each other. What for? Who cared?

 

Plus, your overblown, overwrought, absurdly melodramatic writing style made me seriously NOT question your credentials and objectivity, and proves to me your a wrongly opinionated Saint. Does using these big words mean the world should believe what you have to say, over my fanciful opinionated writing? I don't think so.

[cclowell38]

Hey, you asked. I answererd. If you didn't want posters to your thread to express a different opinion, perhaps you shouldn't have asked.

 

I wasn't sitting on a post, I started a thread on a movie soprano I like better (Deanna Durbin) and saw your post and thought I'd comment on it while I was here. My mistake. lol!

 

As for the rest of it, often biographers are compelled to write about a classic star/performer, because they feel that performer's legacy and talent are worth analyzing for readers (and future readers) who may want to know more about that performer's work and talent.

 

I think it's a shame Ms. Rich didn't feel that way, but had to create the outrageously fanciful "penny dreadful" account she did on their personal lives. As you say, who cares what they did offscreen? Professor Turk's book concentrated much more fully (and expansively) on MacDonald's career and that was one of many reasons I preferred it to Ms. Rich's.)

 

As far as her book outselling Prof. Turk's: Number one, I've seen absolutely no evidence that it has, and Number 2: If it has, in recent years, Kelly Clarkson and Brittney Spears' recordings have outsold those of specific Mozart works, but I know of no rational thinking being who would consider either Ms. Spears or Ms. Clarkson, whatever assets they may have, to be musical talents on Mozart's level.

 

And by the way, as far as the "slams" are concerned, unless you are Ms. Rich, I didn't slam YOU. No need to make it personal by slamming me.

 

I don't think Ms. Rich's account "adds to" my enjoyment of the Mac/Eddy movies. I discovered them several years before I ever heard of Ms. Rich and will continue to do so whatever her revisionist approach to their private lives may yet entail

 

Finally did you read Professor Turk's book? No harm if you haven't, just curious.

[pastfoxy]

Aww, come on. This is Turk writing in to push his book, right?

[cclowell38]

I suspect Professor Turk, as an M.I.T. professor, has much better uses for his time. Something I'm not nearly as certain of in Ms. Rich's case. (Assuming the lady can even tell time, that is.)

[stargzn]

<< over my fanciful opinionated writing? >> A fanciful opinionated writer, such as yourself, should know the conjunction for 'you are' is you're.

 

***As evidenced by your response above, I've come to the conclusion that you are a troll, and trolls deserve to be ignored.

 

****Thanks Melanie. Sorry about your dad. Sweet user name.

 

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[pastfoxy]

Your correct. Ya'll must be another Saint come to the rescue of little ole Turk. See what a Sinner I am. Your so busy looking for way to correct others, it's a shame you did not use this same time to read the vast interviews that Sharon Rich's book held to see the truth about the love affair between Jeanette and Nelson. Oh, I see.... in order to see, the bag over your head would have to be removed. That, might be painful, since it's abviousluy been there for years.

Besides, Ms. Rich knew it was time that the truth came to the front, that Jeanette never died a virgin, yet, still in all, being married to Gene the Queen, had it not been for Nelson, and a few others, Jeanette might have died the Virgin Queen of Hollywood.

[pktrekgirl]

You know, it seems to me that if Janette and Nelson wanted everyone rooting around in their private lives, they'd have been more clear about what their relationship really was, if it was indeed anything more than just friends/co-workers.

 

The fact that there is even the slightest 'mystery' over this indicates to me that even if they *were* a 'couple', perhaps they didn't think it was anyone else's business.

 

In which case, personally, I will respect their wishes and focus on other things about them - things that they perhaps WANTED us to know about.

[jeanettefan7]

I dont find it hard to believe that Nels loved Jam, after all she did help him soooo much.She was kind and lovely,they shared so much,they worked together for years after their films.I think a lot of men loved jeanette, not just Gene.look at Ernst and LB Mayer,so why not Nelson too. I enjoy ALL their works,they helped so many people.while I do not agree with everything Sharon wrote. A lot of folks dismiss Jeanette's hard work,she has helped many generations of singers and actors.Lew Awyres and Ethel Waters both loved her, the same goes true for Nelson,he was heartbroken when she passed away,that is a fact.

I say keep up the good work to all their fans. I am proud to be a fan.

 

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jeanettefan

 

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jeanettefan

[daddysprimadonna]

I read that book also,and found it to be totally incredible(as in,no credibility). I agree also that the writing style was melodramatic and overblown-it could have been a Harlequin romance,LOL.

 

 

 

 

[daddysprimadonna]

Did you notice all the fainting scenes in "Sweethearts"? According to the author,Jeanette MacDonald fainted more than a Victorian miss,LOL.

 

 

 

 

[Arabella]

I can't believe that no one had picked up on their romance before Sharon Rich. And I commend her for the job she did inthoroughly researching her subjects. It took her 20 years to gather all that information and her sources are immpeccable. I guess the only source that Professor Turk relied on was Gene Raymond and Gene never told him about all the outside interests he had during his marriage to Jeanette. That would have been more enlightening. Here's hoping Mr. Osborne has more of the facts than Prof. Turk.

[JackieM]

Most interesting back and forth re the Eddy-- MacDonald relationship. I have read both the Turk and Rich books. I found Ms Rich's poignant love story, at times a bit overblown, but overall, a completely believable, romance about 2 people who could not be happy with, or without each other.

 

Mr.Turks's book,a bio of Jeanette, was a bit puzzling in that it came across as an ode to Gene Raymond. Mr. Turk, should, perhaps, have written it as such, but Jeanette's name was the selling point. I've discovered that many persons, male and female, who have scoffed at the very idea of a Nelson-Jeanette affair of the heart, appear to be enchanted by the smooth, polished charms of her "husband".

Turk uses the "rumor" ploy to constantly belittle Nelson ie "tis rumored he's gay" and compounds it by insinuating, things about Jeanette and her maid. These "gay" rumors revolved around most musical stars of the era, and perhaps Turk was just drudging up a hit of scandal. However, the one glowing exception to all this was, guess who? Of course, Gene Raymond; so maybe Turk had a sense of humor that was missing in the main text.

 

"Sweethearts" doesn't offer a sugarcoated picture of stereotypes, but a hard, realistic look at 2 very strong willed individuals, who loved too well, but not too wisely.

[daddysprimadonna]

I think that you are correct,it's a troll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JackieM]

Well, daddysprimadonna from Biloxi surely must know about fainting spells. But does she know that Jeanette suffered from probably an undiagnosed anemia? Her weight would drop so quickly that she had to go to

(what was called "milk farms") to put on weight. Feeling faint and actually fainting was symptomatic. Nelson often massaged her hands and feet to increase circulation. Of course, they were just casual friends on the set. LOL, honey chile.

[daddysprimadonna]

I wasn't doubting that she had fainting spells,I was referring to the overwrought melodramatic writing style of the book,to which a previous poster alluded. And what's with the assumption that I would know about fainting spells,and what does my username and being from Biloxi have to do with anything? I am my (recently deceased) daddy's primadonna,because that was his pet name for me,due to my obsession with ballet and my habit of walking around the house all the time "en pointe". My my,people DO like to assume what they know nothing about,don't they?LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mawgie]

I loved the Jeanette & Nelson movies long before I read Sharon's book. I knew they they were "in love" with each other just by paying attention to the electricity between them. I think their love flowed from the screen right into the audience. Sharon's book just confirmed what I already felt, and as a result I understood Jam and Nels so much better. I watch the movies every chance I get and I'm very grateful to TMC for showing them.

[daddysprimadonna]

I love the MacDonald/Eddy movies also,and I think that Jeannette MacDonald was one of the most beautiful women on screen.She had such a fragile old-fashioned look that I like very much. I also loved her in her movies for Ernst Lubitsch with Maurice Chevalier.

 

 

 

I just don't know how much stock I'd put into translating their on-screen chemistry,into off-screen chemistry.After all, Fred and Ginger ,had wonderful on-screen chemistry,and while they friends off-screen,they rarely socialised together,and ran in completely different social circles. I suppose that's one of the things that makes thre afore-mentioned couples such good actors-they can project a chemistry on-screen that may or may not exist off-screen.

 

 

 

A really good example is Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in "Gone With The Wind"-onscreen,they sizzled,and are one of the all-time classic screen couples. In real life,Gable confessed to friends that brunettes turned him off-he claimed that they always seemed "dirty" to him. (Can anyone fathom ANYone considering the exquisite Vivien Leigh "dirty"? I daresay her hygiene standards exceeded Clark Gable's-but I still think that he's hot:))

 

 

 

So to end this little essay,LOL, I don't think that on-screen chemistry necessarily means there's any empathy off-screen. And I don't think that that book proved anything beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jeanettefan7]

I love the films with Maurice as well. Did you ever see Monte Carlo? Jeanette singing 'beyond the blue horizon' is stunning.

 

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jeanettefan

[daddysprimadonna]

I've seen "Love Me Tonight" and "The Merry Widow" and one other one,I think,that I can't remember right now,but not the one you mentioned. I'd love to see it! Maybe TCM will show it sometime soon(I'll put in a request). As much as I love Jeannette with Nelson Eddy, I REALLY love her in the Lubitsch films. I wish more people in general were aware of that part of her screen persona,the witty and sophisticated side. I feel she wouldn't be so easily dismissed by some,who can't appreciate romance(the films she did with Nelson). I love both aspects. I really want to see "Monte Carlo",the more I try to imagine her singing that song.

 

 

 

[tommienumberone]

I believe that their love story will at last be revealed. After all these years of spouse threats, MGM studio threats, threats of being sued, threats on life, and who knows what else, its time to learn the truth. Besides, there is overwhelming evidence carefully collected that prove without a reasonable doubt that Nelson and Jeanette loved each other until their deaths. The evidence collected over a 20 year period was definitely not hear say. There was Nelsons diary, Jeanette's personal letters, letters written by Nelson's mother Isabel, letters he wrote to others who came forward after the death of the spouses, eye witnesses on the set of MGM and others who worked with them. Names of the those interviewed are listed in Sharon's book. There are also tapes of the conversations and interviews of the people who came forward once they realized there was no chance of getting sued. Gene certainly did not want anyone to know that his wife loved another man, and that because of the drastic mistake she made in not marrying Nelson, but followed the threats of her MGM boss, she grieved and caused both herself and Nelson to suffer the rest of their lives. Jeanette's own sister Blossom, who was her best friend and confidant, made a statement that Jeanette died a premature death as did Nelson. Even with the heart problems, she might have lived much longer if she had been left alone to marry the man she loved with all of heart, and been able to live a "normal" life. So, those who still want to make saints out of those two, and try to brand Sharon a liar, should really take stock of themselves. Why would someone go to all that trouble, and all the people with whom she spoke, and spend 20 years of her life trying to please Blossom who really believed that Jeanette and Nelsons story should be told to just entertain people? It makes no sense at all. Besides, if that story had come out back in the 30's, 40's, or 50's, our singing sweethearts would have been involved in the worse scandal. Now that all the ones who threatened are dead, the tapes and other sound proof can and will be revealed. I would like to see a movie or documentary made of their lives based on Sharon Rich's book so that this generation may learn about the wonderful lives of two of the most famous singers in History. I really hope that Mr. Osborne of Turner Classic Movies, now that he has read Sharon's book, will grant her an interview so that she may explain in person how she got her information.

[pastfoxy]

I completely agree that no one goes out and spends 20 years getting interviews, is doing so, to, "Invent" stories to print in her book, "Sweethearts." What for? What purpose? No, it makes no sense. I only hope Mr. Osborne can see this.

People say this affair never happened?

Oh, it happened all right, and Sharon Rich got the interviews to prove it, much to the dismay of many. Others whipped out their "factual" books in months. Sharon Rich, it took her 20 years to gather her material... but plain facts found in months, cannot compare to the interviews from the hearts of people that knew Nelson and Jeanette and wanted to protect their love story and their and privacy. It was not easy to get anyone to talk about such a tender love. In time, these same people, knew the real story needed to be told. It's our own, "America's Sweethearts real love story."

Of course Ms. Rich's book reads like the simple pure love that existed between two people, as that's what is was. As someone said, their love ended in tragedy and that's why the story is so powerful. Had they met, married, it would be no big deal.

It's only the love that is, "Lives on", but cannot be, "Lived out", that moves people to tears as Sharon Rich's book does to those that read it. The book allows one to see what is going on in the lives of Nelson and Jeanette as they make movies together. One can watch on screen, what they were going though in their real lives with their love affair. It's an amazing way to watch their movies and know the real, "Behind the Scenes" facts that only Mr. Osborne could tell the public.

 

Facts make their movies, really, come to life. Facts that make one hold one's breath watching Nelson and Jeanette sing in an opera together near the end of, "Maytime", where you actually sit, not being able to move, just staring at them and listening to their very hearts sing. It's an experience that is never forgotten when you know the truth and watch this movie. Sigh.... but then, if this does not move your heart, there is always, "Mr. Turk's" version of cold hard facts to read.... Guaranteed to knock any emotional feeling you have about Nelson and Jeanette out of you.

[Tacky]

OK. I'm mildly curious. Why didn't they just dump their respective spouses and marry each other?

[daddysprimadonna]

stargzn, thank YOU