Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
disliked it.
Onstage the
Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart musical I Married an Angel was a delightful, fun-filled musical comedy. Onscreen, it became the rather sleepy last film for the legendary operetta team of
Jeanette MacDonald and
Nelson Eddy. Unfortunately, neither star is really suited to the material. MacDonald, who displayed a sense of humor and irony early in her career, had by this point become much too earnest; though she tries hard, she is unable to capture the loveable zaniness necessary for the role, although she of course sounds quite good. Eddy was a notoriously poor actor, but he was an even worse reactor -- especially damaging here, as most of his role demands that he be the straight man and react to the strange proceedings happening around and to him. He, too, is in fine voice, but his stiffness -- acceptable when singing operetta -- is utterly unsuitable for the much looser Rodgers and Hart tunes; indeed, though he is given the sublimely gorgeous "I'll Tell the Man in the Street," his performance of it is bland. For her part, MacDonald misses the mischievous humor in the delightful "A Twinkle in Your Eye." W.S. Van Dyke, perhaps defeated by the gulf between the stars and the basic concept, directs in an uninspired manner, though he does try to keep things moving. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide