SunnyHello Nice effects though.

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Jemima It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

jfarms1956 The Cat and The Fiddle is a movie best enjoyed by the baby boomer generation. The best things about this movie is the surprise ending and Jeanette MacDonald. I found the movie to have a lack-luster plot. The beautiful scenery and costumes aid in the enjoyment of the film. I always enjoy watching Frank Morgan. Jeanette MacDonald always has a beautiful voice. I think that the film would be best enjoyed as a late night film to relax one from the stresses of the day. A glass of wine is a perfect to accompany the viewing of this film. If the producer could do the ending of the film the way he did, then why didn't he do the rest of the film the same way. It would have been more enjoyable to watch like that. It was too long, too late. I give it three thumbs up.

Michael_Elliott The Cat and the Fiddle (1934) *** (out of 4) A down-on-his-luck composer (Ramon Novarro) meets an American singer (Jeanette MacDonald) and the two quickly fall in love while at the same time trying to get their careers off the ground. Just as everything seems to be going well, another man (Frank Morgan) enters the picture. THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE is a film I went into expecting very little. I knew it had some pretty good reviews but the thought of Novarro playing this type of role in this type of film just seems a bit off. Well, it turns out he's without question the best thing about the picture and he's reason alone to check it out. I was really surprised at how well he fit into the role because he's perfectly believable as this rather laid back yet slick character who we first see trying to get out of paying a tab. The way Novarro plays this sequence was pretty funny and there are quite a few other scenes where he's trying to get out of paying something. I also thought the musical numbers were handled extremely well by the actor as he brought a lot of energy and fire to them. MacDonald is also very good in her role and is believable and charming. I thought the chemistry between the two stars was right on the mark and helped sell the typical romance. Morgan and Jean Hersholt are also good in their supporting roles but it's Charles Butterworth who nearly steals the picture with his comic genius. It's really a shame this guy isn't better known today. The musical numbers are all quite good even though none of the songs really jump off the screen. Another highlight comes for the final five-minutes when the film switches over to 2-strip Technicolor and just wait till you see MacDonald's hair color. It jumps right off the screen!

bob-790-196018 In the years before she teamed up with Nelson Eddy and became the object of later camp mockery, Jeannette MacDonald starred in several bright, sophisticated musical comedies directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and in one of the greatest of all musical films, Rouben Mammoulian's Love Me Tonight. MacDonald had many talents, and they were all on display in these movies. She could sing wonderfully, act, do comedy, and be quite sexy.Unfortunately, while The Cat and the Fiddle belongs to this pre-Eddy period, it does not measure up to the other films. It has all the saccharine sentimentality--the corn--of old fashioned operetta without any of the high spirits and with little of the sophisticated humor. In addition, Ramon Novarro is no Maurice Chevalier. He is earnest but dull and too effeminate to be believable as the object of MacDonald's romantic interest. The best one can say is that he can sing reasonably well.Besides the pleasure of hearing MacDonald sing and do her best to inject some life and naughtiness into the story, there is one other high point: Charles Butterworth in his role as Charles, the goofy hanger-on with the absurd non-sequiturs. He was a delightful character actor of the time.There is one particularly good Jerome Kern song: The Night Was Made for Love. Also worth seeing is Vivienne Segal in one of her rare movie appearances. One of her greatest Broadway roles was in Pal Joey.

preppy-3 Charming musical/drama/comedy.A penniless composer in Brussels named Victor Florescu (Ramon Novarro) meets American singer Shirley Sheridan (Jeanette MacDonald). He is immediately (and understandably) attracted to her. She hates him but then they start collaborating and fall in love. She becomes successful and he doesn't. Will this tear them apart?The story is obvious from the beginning but who cares? This was MacDonald's first movie for MGM and they pulled out all the stops for her. The movie is beautifully done with lavish sets and costumes and a beautiful score. MacDonald and Novarro have no sexual charisma between them (a kiss at the end looks horrible) but they both can sing and play off each other nicely.MacDonald is very good at acting and singing. She's beautiful and what a voice! Novarro sometimes overacts (especially at the beginning) and he doesn't look too good (he was sadly suffering from alcoholism at the time and it shows) but he still has that boyish charm and smile and he can sing very well. And there's an interesting closing sequence in VERY bright two-color Technicolor (love Novarro's green suit!).It's well-done with beautiful sets, acting, stars and songs. This really should be better known. Also one of Novarro's best final roles before homophobia ruined his career. I give it an 8.