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Bitter Sweet

Play trailer Poster for Bitter Sweet Released Nov 8, 1940 1h 34m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Sarah Millick (Jeanette MacDonald) is engaged to marry Harry Daventry (Edward Ashley), but it's an arranged marriage. She doesn't love Harry; her real love is her music teacher, Carl Linden (Nelson Eddy). Against her parents' wishes, Sarah leaves Harry for Carl and the two run off to Vienna to get married. Once there, they struggle to make ends meet. Carl tries desperately to sell an operetta he wrote, while Sarah fights off the leering approaches of Baron von Tranisch (George Sanders).
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Bitter Sweet

Critics Reviews

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George Orwell Time and Tide This third version which retains none of the atmosphere of the original play and has altered its plot to the point of making it meaningless. Oct 2, 2023 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Made at the height of their popularity, this charming Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald operetta was nominated for two Oscars, cinematography and Art Direction. Rated: B+ Apr 7, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A dud. The worst of the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/04/21 Full Review Audience Member When I saw that this film was in color I knew it must be a high-budget film considering how scarce color movies were during the early 40's. Therefore I expected a high-budget plot to go with it. It contained a few wholesome, romantic highlights, but the unexpected dramatic death scene at the end of the movie just didn't fit with the overall bland comedy/romance mood of the film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Even though Noel Coward claimed to have cried from despair after seeing it, this is one of the better MacDonald-Eddy operettas; the two singers are in fine form singing "I'll See You Again" and the MGM Technicolor production is lovely to look at. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Made at the height of their popularity, this charming Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald operetta was nominated for two Oscars, cinematography and Art Direction. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Turn of the century piece about a song student, Sarah Millick, MacDonald, who falls for her teacher, Carl Linden, Eddy. They move to Vienna, struggle at first to become singers playing on the street until they are heard outside of a gambling house by Baron Von Tranisch, George Sanders. Carl writes Sarah an opera which is not produced until after Carl is killed by the Baron. The opera is a success but it is "bitter sweet" for Sarah. The opera stage productions are extravagant and dazzling. While the movie serves as not much more than a vehicle for the songs it is still worth a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Some good humor, but not as good as Naughty Marietta. The character parts kept me from turning it off. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bitter Sweet

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Cast & Crew

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W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

Jeanette MacDonald

Sarah Millick

Nelson Eddy

Carl Linden

George Sanders

Baron Von Tranisch

Ian Hunter

Lord Shayne

Felix Bressart

Max
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Bitter Sweet

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sarah Millick (Jeanette MacDonald) is engaged to marry Harry Daventry (Edward Ashley), but it's an arranged marriage. She doesn't love Harry; her real love is her music teacher, Carl Linden (Nelson Eddy). Against her parents' wishes, Sarah leaves Harry for Carl and the two run off to Vienna to get married. Once there, they struggle to make ends meet. Carl tries desperately to sell an operetta he wrote, while Sarah fights off the leering approaches of Baron von Tranisch (George Sanders).
Director
W. S. Van Dyke II
Producer
Victor Saville
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 8, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 34m
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