Sweethearts (1938) [Warner Archive Blu-ray review]

Sweethearts is the 1938 film adaption of that classic Victor Herbert show. If you have never heard of Herbert or the original Sweethearts, then you also might not have fond memories of the Depression and yesteryear. We’re getting to a point with Golden Age cinema, where we’re looking 80-90 years back in time to try and pinpoint where these films existed in American cinema. While the screenplay had a helping hand from Dorothy Parker, it’s still a typical show business drama. People are in love, money is to be made and the show must go on.

America must have really been fascinated by Broadway

The appeal of Broadway has been forever lost on Middle America. Let’s be honest, the glamor was lost on the West Coast as well. So, why did The Great Depression cinema have so many films praising it? Gwen Marlowe and Ernest Lane are doing a 6 year run of the Broadway show Sweethearts and they are getting battered by everything in the world. As the call of Hollywood grows closer, they wait to make a decision about leaving for California. Since their work is keeping money people afloat during the Depression, they have quite a few mouths to feed and backs not to stab.

So, the people that will get left behind decide to break up our two leads. Why? Because this is the kind of things you schemed up, when everything cost a nickel and a hot dog with a side of soup was considered a full day’s meal. What ends up happening is the efforts of staging the show get split in half. Why? Because competing productions of Sweethearts in a time when many couldn’t afford shelter makes perfect sense.

How many behind the scenes dramas do we need?

All About Eve is the definition of mid. Now, I used slang there a bit to call a mediocre movie in the context of 1950 cinema as not being of utmost value. However, it was from a time that was a little more believable and it made sense for the America of then. The thing hurting Sweethearts is how work-a-day the Broadway experience is shown to be to the masses. It’s a grueling job with no guarantee of when the next show lands after the contract closes. But, Sweethearts does something different.

Unlike some musicals that revolve around grand performance numbers disconnected from narrative, Sweethearts weaves those performances into a meta-theatrical setting. The characters are stage stars whose real-life drama unfolds parallel to their onstage romantic parts. This plot device adds mild satire about theatrical productions and the meddling of producers.

Sweethearts is incredibly well shot

The cinematography by Marsh and Davey really made the sets pop. While it pulled down an Oscar win for its early color work, Sweethearts isn’t a lot more than the flash of 30s Broadway. But what it does do is sell you on the pizzazz more than other films of its era. The only other one that got kinda close in color was 1937’s A Star is Born. 1938 was still relatively early in Hollywood’s adoption of full-color films. Sweethearts’ bright costumes and set designs pop off the screen. Modern viewers might spot some limitations in color stability, but at the time, the vivid hues were a major selling point.

From the moment Sweethearts begins, viewers see a vibrant color palette that situates Sweethearts among early Technicolor endeavors. In 1938, color cinematography was hardly the standard; black-and-white was still a mainstay for most Hollywood productions. Yet, MGM recognized that lavish color musicals helped differentiate their offerings. Even if some of the color processes from that era could be temperamental, the effort to shoot Sweethearts in Technicolor was a statement of confidence.

Let’s talk about the Warner Archive Blu-ray

Sweethearts comes to Warner Archive Blu-ray with a handful of special features. You get the audio-only tracks for the pre-recording original sessions. There’s even some Radio Broadcasts and the Short Subject that would have accompanied the film. Plus, you get some classic cartoons and a trailer.

I dig the A/V Quality work, as the 1080p transfer makes the Oscar winning cinematography pop. Plus, the DTS-HD 2.0 mono track isn’t too shabby either! Though overshadowed by more iconic musicals, it retains a following among classic film buffs, thanks to its behind-the-curtain narrative, the leads’ vocal prowess, and W.S. Van Dyke’s polished direction.

If you appreciate vintage musicals or want to see why MacDonald and Eddy were such a celebrated screen duo, Sweethearts offers a delightful peek at 1930s Hollywood’s flair for operetta-infused entertainment.

Sweethearts is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive. Pick it up at MovieZyng!