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.
Insights
Plot Summary
The film chronicles the life and career of the renowned Irish-American composer Victor Herbert. It follows his journey from Ireland to America, his rise to fame as a conductor and composer of popular operettas, and his struggles with the music industry. The narrative also incorporates a romantic subplot and showcases many of Herbert's most beloved musical pieces.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, 'The Great Victor Herbert' was generally received as a pleasant and well-produced musical biopic, appealing to fans of Victor Herbert's music. Critics often praised the performances, particularly Mary Martin's, and the lavish musical numbers, although some found the plot to be somewhat conventional for the genre.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its faithful portrayal of a beloved composer's life.
- Celebrated for its inclusion of numerous classic Victor Herbert melodies.
- Noted for strong musical performances, especially by Mary Martin.
Google audience: Audience reception information from Google reviews is not readily available for this older film.
Fun Fact
Mary Martin, who plays the role of Evelyn, was a rising Broadway star at the time and this was one of her early film roles. Her performance, especially her rendition of 'Indian Summer,' is often cited as a highlight of the film.
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