Excellent Comparison Between the movies “Maytime” and “Titanic”
The Comparisons Between ”MAYTIME” and ”TITANIC”
While watching the 1937 operetta that starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy – ”MAYTIME”, I noticed that the story and main characters bore a strong resemblance in story structure to a movie that was released sixty years later . . . namely ”TITANIC”, which starred Leonardo diCaprio and Kate Winslet. Note the following:
Down Memory Lane
*”MAYTIME” starts with the elderly heroine recounting her experiences as an opera singer in Paris of the 1860s to a young couple.
*”TITANIC” starts with the elderly heroine recounting her experiences as a bride-to-be aboard the S.S. Titanic to her granddaughter and a group of treasure seekers.
Box Office
*”MAYTIME” was the box office champ of 1937.
*”TITANIC” was the box office champ of 1997/1998.
The Villain
*The flashback for ”MAYTIME” begins with the heroine – American opera singer Marcia Mornay (Jeanette MacDonald) – in Paris, being accompanied by a possessive mentor Nicolai (John Barrymore).
*The flashback for ”TITANIC” begins with the heroine – American aristocrat Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) – about to board the S.S. Titanic with her possessive fiancé Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) and manipulative mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Frances Fisher).
Meeting the Hero
*In ”MAYTIME”, after escaping her mentor’s company, Marcia meets a penniless American singer named Paul Allison (Nelson Eddy) on the streets of Paris. He had been living in Paris for a few years.
*In ”TITANIC”, after escaping her fiancé and mother’s company, Rose tries to commit suicide and eventually meets a penniless American artist named Jack Dawson (Leonardo diCaprio) on one of Titanic’s decks. He had been living in Paris and London for a few years.
The Pleasure of Each Other’s Company
*Marcia and Paul spend an evening singing and dancing at a Paris café with lower-class citizens in ”MAYTIME”.
*Rose and Jack enjoy a night drinking and dancing with the steerage passengers, following a formal dinner in ”TITANIC”.
Jealousy
*Marcia’s mentor, Nicolai, grows increasingly jealous toward Paul in ”MAYTIME”.
*Rose’s finace, Cal, grows increasingly angry and jealous of Rose’s time with Jack in ”TITANIC”
Intimate Bond
*Marcia and Paul share an intimate bond, while performing together on the opera stage, under the jealous eye of Nicolai in ”MAYTIME”
*Rose and Jack share an intimate bond together, while he draws a nude sketch of her. They later make love. A jealous Cal later finds the drawing in ”TITANIC”.
Death of Hero
*Insane with jealousy, Nicolai later shoots and kills Paul in ”MAYTIME”
*A jealous Cal goes beserk and tries to kill both Rose and Jack. The latter eventually freezes to death in the cold North Atlantic Ocean, after the ship’s sinking in ”TITANIC”.
Death of Heroine
*After the elderly Marcia finishes her story, she dies in ”MAYTIME”. The ghost of her younger self meets with Paul’s ghost and they sing together in the afterlife.
*After the elderly Rose finishes her story, she dies in ”TITANIC”. The ghost of her younger self meets with Jack’s ghost, and the ghosts of Titanic’s dead passengers in the afterlife.
Mind you, the plots of both ”MAYTIME” are not exactly like that of ”TITANIC”. But there are some strong similarities in both characterizations and in story structure that makes me wonder if James Cameron had watched the 1937 musical one too many times.
Hollywood Master Chorale offers “Opera Schnopera, the sequel”
At least Stouthearted Men will be in the production…to be held at the Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles on June 22. From the press release:
“Stouthearted Men” from The New Moon by Sigmund Romberg and made famous by Nelson Eddy is also known for its version by the US Navy…”
1940: a 12-year old’s diary excerpt about Nelson Eddy
…”Mr. Tomlinson, our choirmaster at Saint Alban’s, gave me a solo last Sunday. I sang Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze. I don’t like doing solos. I find them embarrassing.
“Mum said I should be proud to have been chosen and wouldn’t I like to be a singer when I grow up, like Nelson Eddy. I told her, “No fear. I want to be a footballer, like Stanley Matthews or Dixie Dean.”
Fans of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy celebrate 67 years of marriage
Lovely tribute to fans of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy:
May 10, 1941 – A very good day! Because, you see, on that day 67 years ago, a man named Franny and a woman named Ethy became one. At 10:00 in the morning this couple was united before God, family and friends, promising to love and honor “till death us do part.”
Groom’s brother and bride’s sister stood as witnesses for the happy couple. A wedding party of 12 tuxedos and evening gowns did not march down the aisle. But they had love.
After the rice was thrown (not birdseed, bubbles or butterflies), the newlyweds toured the town in a 1939 LaSalle borrowed from groom’s father. They did not rent a freakishly stretched stretch-limo. But they had love.
First stop was Tomei Photography Studio in Akron, Ohio where the local photographer snapped a few photos. They did not immortalize every conceivable moment of the day on video. But they had love.
Second stop: The Canteen for a wedding breakfast for 20 honored guests. Next came some rest (Now isn’t that a unique feature to include in one’s wedding day?) at the bride’s house where an afternoon reception of cake and punch afforded well-wishers the opportunity to convey congratulations to the groom and best wishes to the bride. And then the guests went home.
That evening the mother of the bride prepared an elegant wedding dinner for family. They did not catapult bride’s parents into enormous debt orchestrating a catered extravaganza complete with mind-numbing music blaring from bass-boosted speakers. But they had love.
The honeymooners then drove to Warren, Ohio where they spent their first night as husband and wife, followed by a cozy week of fishing in Canada. They did not sail the seven seas with total strangers. But they had love.
And for the past 67 years they have passed that love down to their children and their children’s children with more than enough left over for their great grandchildren. They did it right all those years ago remembering what mattered most, and they are still doing it right 67 years later.
Still holding hands, still laughing, still waking up next to each other, and still listening to Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy belt out, “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” on those Victor 78s. What is their sweet mystery of life? Simply this: because they were never stingy with love, because they didn’t store it up for themselves, but lavishly broadcast it time after time, decade after decade, to any and all who crossed their paths, they still have love.