I remember nothing!

What have I posted? When did I post it? Does it matter at all?

THE WORLD NEEDS JEANETTE.

Remember that time that Jeanette yoinked Norma Shearer's Juliet gown for a costume party? Yup, friends, Jeanette was a "borrower" of dresses. I use the term "borrower" very loosely. ;)

Hello, boys and girls...

Does anyone else remember the old AOL fan site that had a sound clip that played over and over and over and over again? It was "Hello, boys and girls! This is Jeanette MacDonald."

That drove me nuts.

Anyway, what I'm actually here for is to apologize for my absence. I'm going to be very candid here, though I'm quite sure you don't care much about the girl behind the blog, haha. I struggle with depression. I have my good times and my very, very bad times. The past few months have been a struggle to get away from the very bad. While I hate leaving Jeanette in the dust, it's very hard for me to keep up with Jeanette news and pictures, when I know that there could be conflict lurking around every corner. And THAT is why it is hard to be a fangirl. I applaud all of you boys and girls who can steadily do it every day. *clap*

Continuing on, though. I haven't bought any new pictures because I wasn't in the mood to fight for them, on ebay. Here's an old one, but I don't know that I've posted it here, before.

I have this titled as "couchpeople" because really, they're using each other as arm rests. What even, guise.

Dynamic Duos: Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.

As a part of the Dynamic Duos Blogathon, happening this weekend, I was approached to write a little some'fin about our dear Jeanette and Nelson. Mostly because no one else had volunteered.

Before I get into the technicalities of it all, I want to explore a little bit into the Jeanette and Nelson fandom.
It's hard out there, for a fangirl. I mean, it takes all of one's will to keep being a fan of Jeanette and Nelson because there are so many stories to try to sort through about their lives, and so many people who will stand in line to tell you you're a freak, if you don't believe something that they do. I try not to be that way, but I find it hard to be inclusive with Nelson because I don't want people thinking the wrong way. I was friends with a dear friend of Jeanette's, who told me one thing, and I believe her 100%. She had no reason to lie to me. Anyway, what I want to say is that this was much harder than it should have been, to write, because it's very hard to predict when you might say something to polarize half a community. To prospective fans- I'm sorry we're like this. To old and dear fans and friends- I don't know that we could have it any other way.

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy pose for a publicity portrait for Naughty Marietta (1935)

Jeanette and Nelson, as a team, were introduced to America in Naughty Marietta. Having both had very successful stage careers, and she a wildly successful movie career starring opposite some of the most popular leading men of the time, such as Maurice Chevalier, their stars seemed destined to align. She, with a light, but completely proficient and emotion-filled soprano, and he with the booming, but soothing baritone. Their voices weren't the only thing to mesh like they were made to sing together, though. Long known as the "Lingerie Queen of the Movies," Jeanette fell into her roles as noble princesses and dutiful prima donnas perfectly. Nelson, always her savior, her suitor, or the recipient of one of her witty barbs or hateful glares, seemed to shine brighter along side Jeanette. While perfectly capable (moreso than given credit for) as an actor, himself, Jeanette seemed to bring out the best in him. She knew how to respond, how to tease, and how to illicit a response from him, better than any of his other co-stars, save for maybe the brilliant Risë Stevens, in The Chocolate Soldier.

America's Singing Sweethearts in Maytime (1937)

MGM knew they had a hit, with the team, and went on to star them in seven subsequent titles, many being recycled versions of previous successes, under the guise of being based on an old classic operetta (see Naughty Marietta and New Moon back to back, and you'll know what I mean.) Their best movie together, by far, though, was Maytime, released in 1937, after a world of problems and tragedies plagued the production. What began as a lush Technicolor extravaganza, ended as a touching, emotional, brilliantly photographed black and white treasure. Personally, I believe it is second only to Citizen Kane in terms of the cinematography and editing. It's a beautiful picture just to watch on mute, but it's a platinum prize to watch, as it should be. They play Paul and Marcia, star crossed lovers who meet only for a few days, in France, only to part and meet again, years later. The brilliant John Barrymore, past his prime but still a force to be reckoned with, heads up the supporting cast, as Marcia's mentor, Nicolai. I won't spoil it for you, like Jane Powell spoiled it for me (ProTip: Don't start your Jeanelson fandom by watching the America's Singing Sweethearts documentary. *shakes fist*), but I promise you, it's a must see, to understand the full dynamic of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and the wonder of their voices, blended together. (Find it HERE, at WarnerArchive.com)

After a two years hiatus, the team is back together for a final outing, in I Married An Angel (1942)

I can go on and on all day about all eight of their pictures, but really, what was it about them that made them so very appealing, as a team? What is it that, almost 80 years later, makes people instantly think of one, when someone mentions the other? I happen to think that it was their personal similarities that made them work so well together. They were both professional, dignified people, who knew how to get their way, and did so, always. While Nelson may have been more of the studious, ever learning craftsman, that by no means implies that Jeanette was a slacker. They worked hard, all their lives, for what they had and never caused a scandal along the way. They were just decent human beings who got along famously because they loved the same thing- music. They had the same goals, the same operatic aspirations. I don't believe they were best friends, but it's hard to deny chemistry with another person who is essentially your equal. While many people believe that the chemistry was a result of a love affair, I do not. I believe that this was a case of two wildly talented people who just happened to be in the same place, at the same time, and magic happened. And no matter what you believe, there is one thing that is for certain. They gave us a gift, and we can't ever forget that. We can't fight about the fact that two great people were willing to be a part of our lives, changing them in ever so many ways, just with their music. I don't talk about this a lot, but the song Will You Remember actually saved my life, when I thought it had reached it's darkest point. We owe it to Jeanette and Nelson to be strong, be fans, and just spread the word of this Dynamic Duo.

Sweethearts (1938)

To find more fun Dynamic Duo Blogathon Posts, go see Aurora's Gin Joint for more greatness, as we round out day two of the Blogathon!

I just want to *petpet* her wee head.

Look at this. LOOK AT THIS PICTURE. You have one job, and it is to look at this fabulosity. See, I'm being very generous in sharing the hi-res of this because, as you know, I have a phobia of inciting bad fanfiction. I wonder what the technical term for that would be...

1.) Lookit her wearing her necklace from Gene! I love that mess of pearls to bits. When I get rich and famous (never), I'm going to have a copy made. It's not like I don't have 15 dozen pictures of her wearing it, for a jeweler to go off of.
2.) I want to play connect the dots and draw a tiny giraffe on Nelson's shirt.
3.) To quote Gracie Allen, in Honolulu, "My dog has fleas..."
4.) That ukelele looks like mine, by which I mean someone who acts like she's 5, sometimes, found it on the floor, in a non tuned state, and told someone else to take a picture of her being 5, with her BFF Nelson, who is 7.
5.) Imaging the line, "Let's all sing the hits from Let's Go Native. Hold on, my hair isn't puffy enough."

Risë Stevens

So......
Pretty sure I accidentally killed poor Risë. You see, I have this recurring dream where... well, I'm not going to go into it, but I predict death. And Risë was in one of those dreams, last night. I know, I know, she died yesterday, but we didn't know until today.
It's this thing I have. I can't help it or control it.
I want to do a proper Jeanette related tribute to her, because I honestly feel like crap for accidentally killing her with my last blog post and because she was a really hardcore lady. I can't find any quotes Jeanette said about her, at the moment, but a very good friend of mine and the blog's, Paul, provided me with a quote from an audio interview he did with Risë, in NYC, in 2002. This is some of what she had to say about Jeanette, who she spent a good deal of time with, in Hollywood, during the time when she was making films.

"Jeanette was the most unaffected star I ever met in Hollywood. She had her priorities straight and they didn't involve the trappings of stardom. She was so rooted in reality and in her marriage which she claimed was her greatest accomplishment in life. Not her concert record or film success but succeeding in having a happy union....."

Now that's a glowing mention, if I ever read one. Thanks for your kindness and honesty, Miss Stevens, and thank you for all of your contributions to the world of music. You were a class act.

Happy 100th!

I know you think I've abandoned you, but I promise I've been around. I've just been trying to come up with an awesome 100th post, but I can't. Why? Because every post with Jeanette is an awesome post. There's simply no way to top the perfection I have in the other 99. I really have nothing better to do than be a big fat troll. Guess who owns this picture...

Oh, what's that? You can't get the hi res of this awesome picture of Jeanette holding hands with Rise Stevens? (Now THERE'S a rumor for you!) Oh, maybe it's because a bunch of fools ruined it for everyone by making fun of Gene. It's a shame, really. Maybe I'll start acting like a grown up when everyone else does. Which... I'm guessing will be never, so....

Happy 100th!

P.S. I had a dream about Mona Maris, last night. Anyone got that one in a dream dictionary?

NOMS

Oh Gene, Jeanette is not your tasty noms. Still, this will never not be my favorite thing that was ever captured of them doing. Because what even.