This screenshot from the movie Sweethearts shows us again that Jeanette MacDonald was very pregnant during the summer of 1938. But what’s different about this shot is the side of Jeanette’s gown that is showing. We can see that the dress has been altered, the left seam opened, the waist area enlarged and appears to be fastened now with a Velcro-type forerunner or some other manner that isn’t precise since it rides up a bit above the waist.
The pregnancy ended in miscarriage and Hedda Hopper got the scoop, slyly finding a way to reveal it without actually saying it. Hedda was supportive of the Jeanette-Nelson relationship, which is why she was invited into Jeanette’s bedroom during her recovery; whereas Louella Parsons, the Hearst papers and Louie B. Mayer all disapproved of Nelson Eddy, considering him an annoyance and distraction to Jeanette’s career drive. Don’t forget Nelson tried to sue Louella for her first attempt to reveal that he was dating Jeanette. From then on, Louella was fairly hostile toward Nelson.
The first newspaper blurb, noting Jeanette’s hospitalization:
Back in the hospital again once Sweethearts finished filming? Maybe yes for a day or so, but three weeks? Nope, she was off to Reno to “establish residency” and get a quickie, legal divorce there, even though there was no longer any rush to do so.
Look magazine also attempted to reveal a scoop… very much aware she planned to marry again, sooner rather than later!
Thanks to Katie Gardner for capturing and sharing the color screenshot photo.