Entertainment Weekly’s “50 sexiest movies ever” omits “Maytime” starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

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In this week’s issue of the magazine Entertainment Weekly (#1023, November 28, 2008), the lead story is “The 50 sexiest movies ever.” The films that were chosen include many recent ones such as Titanic, Ghost and The Notebook, and a few classic titles like Notorious, King Kong and The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Because they are ONLY featuring films available on DVD, we’re sure this is the only reason that they overlooked Maytime, the 1937 hit starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. It was the highest grossing film of that year and it wasn’t a musical per se – but rather, a drama in which the two stars were singers. They made love with their singing, visualizing the unspoken longing that tortured them for the second half of the film. It culminated in the climax – their finally losing control while reunited in a live opera, “Czaritza.”

That ten-minute sequence is one of the most chilling, thrilling and sensuous romantic moments in all cinema history.

Previously we ran a comparison of Maytime and Titanic, because the two films have many similarities besides the fact that they were each their year’s top grossing film! You can read about it here.

So, we say, don’t forget Maytime! How about if you add your 2c worth to this by posting your thoughts on Entertainment Weekly’s website link devoted to their “50 sexiest movies ever.” The link is: http://www.ew.com/sexydvds. Your comments are much appreciated!

Nelson Eddy slept here…

Opened in 1895; The Jefferson Hotel, located in Richmond, Virginia.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

The Jefferson’s history would not be complete without mention of the numerous dignitaries, celebrities and notables to visit over the last century.

No less than eleven Presidents. Harrison, McKinley, Wilson, Coolidge, Taft, both Roosevelts (Theodore and Franklin Delano), Truman and Reagan, and both Bushes have stayed at the hotel. Also among the rich and/or famous guests were: Admiral Dewey, Sarah Bernhardt, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Vanderbilts, Whitneys and Barrymores, Gertrude Stein, Sir Edmund Hillary, Charles Chaplin, Nelson Eddy, Robert Mitchum, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley who enjoyed a breakfast of bacon, eggs over easy, milk, no coffee, and home fries, capped off with a scoop of ice cream in cantaloupe. Sergie Rachmaninoff played in The Grand Ballroom and one of the world’s most famous dancers, Bill (Bojangles) Robinson, was “discovered” as he waited tables in the dining room.

In recent years, a wide variety of actors, musicians, politicians, professional athletes, foreign dignitaries and other luminaries have visited. Members of the media have also taken an interest in The Jefferson, broadcasting live from the lobbies. ABC Weatherman Spencer Christian stayed at The Jefferson and broadcast his portions of “Good Morning, America” on December 4, 1992 and again during the spring of 1994. CBS news commentator, Charles Kuralt, filmed a segment for his “Sunday Morning ” show on November 29, 1987. The Jefferson and its statue of Thomas Jefferson was backdrop for another segment of “Sunday Morning” in December 1994. The subject was the Statute for Religious Freedom.

Link to hotel history

Today in history…Nelson Eddy replaces Lily Pons in Los Angeles concert

While still under contract at MGM, but before he became a film star, Nelson Eddy marked time giving concerts on the West Coast. He was counting the days until his contract expired and it’s likely he would have left MGM at the end of 1933…had Jeanette MacDonald not come into the picture.

Just as Nelson Eddy was “discovered” in San Diego early in 1933, when he replaced an ill Lotte Lehman at a scheduled concert, we find that in November of that year, he replaced an ill Lily Pons in Los Angeles. By the way, Jeanette MacDonald was in the audience for this concert.

11/14/1933 from Hollywood Citizen News

Nelson Eddy, popular baritone, who will appear next Tuesday night in concert at Philharmonic Auditorium will include on his program the popular cowboy song, “The Last Round-up.”

Eddy’s program at Philharmonic will be the same as that he offered at San Diego, where he was called to take the place of Lily Pons when she canceled her engagement at the southern city.

The Philharmonic concert is the only one on the baritone’s schedule for Los Angeles this season. He will appear, however, with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the Bay City on Dec. 22 and 23.

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