When MGM first released Sweethearts in theaters, it was the studio’s first film to hit the screen utilizing the three-strip Technicolor process. The film received a Blu-ray upgrade by way of the Warner Archive Collection in November. It is presented in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio with side mattes and a DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono audio track.

Prior to starring in Sweethearts, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy had never starred in a film that wasn’t in black-and-white. The film was originally going to be filmed in black-and-white but MGM scrapped those plans within a few days of production starting. Additionally, the film marked another first in that they didn’t have to wear uniforms or period costumes.

It’s a common mistake that people believe that the film is an outright adaptation of Victor Herbert’s operetta but this isn’t the case. Gwen Marlowe (Jeanette MacDonald) and Ernest Lane (Nelson Eddy) just happen to in their sixth year of starring in Herbert’s operetta on the stage while the script otherwise concerns a plot to move to Hollywood.

The film received two Oscar nominations for Best Sound, Recording (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director) and Best Music, Scoring (Herbert Stothart). Additionally, Oliver T. Marsh and Allen M. Davey were the recipients of an Honorary Award for the color cinematography of Sweethearts.

Despite both the Blu-ray and packaging listing a 101-minute runtime, the film is actually 114 minutes in length.

Synopsis

Broadway’s Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane are sweethearts, onstage as stars of Victor Herbert’s operetta and offstage as happily marrieds. Then Hollywood beckons, and their fretful stage producer puts the kibosh on any Tinseltown plans by trumping up a romantic triangle that sets the lovebirds feuding. Notable as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s first feature film shot in the three-color Technicolor process, the 24-karat Golden Age singing team of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are at their absolute best in this lavish, gossamer-weight box office smash glittering with songs that highlight their superb voices. Director W. S. Van Dyke II provides sophistication, the Dorothy Parker-Alan Campbell script provides rapier wit and the Oscar -winning cinematography provides proof the ravishing, red-haired MacDonald was born for Technicolor. Newly remastered for its Blu-ray debut from 4K scans of preservation elements.

Bonus Features

• Audio-only original pre-recording session material
• Radio Broadcast of SWEETHEARTS from the Screen Guild Theater (3/25/46)
• TECHNICOLOR SHORT SUBJECT: PIRATE PARTY ON CATALINA ISLAND (excerpt)
• CLASSIC CARTOONS:
  • COUNT ME OUT
  • LOVE AND CURSES
• Original Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: W.S. Van Dyke
SCREENWRITERS: Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell
CAST: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, with Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Florence Rice, Mischa Auer, Herman Bing, Reginald Gardiner

MGM released Sweethearts in theaters on December 22, 1938.

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