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The Firefly (1937 film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Firefly' is a 1937 musical film starring Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones. The film is an adaptation of the operetta of the same name by composer Rudolf Friml and librettist Otto A. Harbach that premiered on Broadway in 1912. The film used nearly all of the music from the operetta but jettisoned the plot in favor of a new storyline set in Spain during the time of the Emperor Napoleon I. It added a new song, "The Donkey Serenade" (a reworking by Herbert Stothart of Friml's 1918 orchestral piece 'Chanson'), which became extremely popular, as was one of the Friml songs, "Giannina Mia". The original release prints of the film were elaborately tinted with Sepia-Blue, Sepia-Orange and Sepia-Blue-Pink.
Plot
Secret agent Nina Maria Azara (Jeanette MacDonald) is working undercover for the King of Spain (Tom Rutherford) as a singer known as the "Mosca del Fuego" or "Firefly." Despite her love for Captain Andre (Allan Jones), she tricks him so that his general will change the French defensive positions, thus allowing the Duke of Wellington to win the Battle of Vitoria. In the end Nina and Andre leave together for a new life in peace.
Cast
* Jeanette MacDonald as Nina Maria Azara
* Allan Jones as Don Diego / Captain Andre
* Warren William as Colonel de Rouchemont
* Billy Gilbert as Inn Keeper
* Douglass Dumbrille as Marquis de Melito
* Henry Daniell as General Savary
* Leonard Penn as Etienne DuBois
* Tom Rutherford as King Ferdinard (as Tom Rutherfurd)
* Belle Mitchell as Lola
* George Zucco as St. Clair, Secret Service Chief
* Corbet Morris as Duvall (as Corbett Morris)
* Matthew Boulton as Duke of Wellington
* Riley Hill (credited as Roy Harris) - Lieutenant
* Frank Campeau as Beggar (uncredited)
* Alan Curtis as Soldier (uncredited)
* Brandon Hurst as General (uncredited)
Musical Numbers
* 'LOVE IS LIKE A FIREFLY'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach, Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'DANSE JEANETTE'
** Written by Herbert Stothart
** Danced by Jeanette MacDonald
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'THE DONKEY SERENADE'
** Music by Bob Wright, Chet Forrest, and Herbert Stothart, adapted from "Chanson" by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
** Sung by Allan Jones
* 'SYMPATHY'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'A WOMAN'S KISS'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
** Sung by Allan Jones
** Backgroung vocal by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'GIANNINA MIA'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
** Sung by Allan Jones
* 'HE WHO LOVES AND RUNS AWAY'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Gus Kahn
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'WHEN A MAID COMES KNOCKING AT YOUR HEART'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach, Bob Wright & Chet Forrest
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'I LOVE YOU DON DIEGO'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'OJOS ROJOS' (uncredited)
** Argentine Folk Song
** Arranged by Manuel Alvarez Maciste
** Played by Manuel Alvarez Maciste
* 'PARA LA SALUD'
** Arranged by Herbert Stothart
** Danced by Jeanette MacDonald
* 'THE DONKEY SERENADE'
** Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart
** Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones
* 'FINALE: "GIANNINA MIA"'
** Music by Rudolf Friml
** Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
** Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones
* 'ENGLISH MARCH'
** Sung by Chorus
References
*Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.), pub. Hal Leonard Corporation page 74
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