Naughty Marietta: Opera, Corsets, and a Whole Lot of Singing

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, if you like musicals that treat reality like an optional suggestion, you will have a blast. If you’re the type of person who needs a movie to feel grounded or modern, you’re going to hate every second of this. It’s pure, unadulterated 1935 cheese, but the kind that actually tastes pretty good once you accept it.

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are the main event here. They spend half the movie looking at each other like they just realized they forgot to turn the stove off, only to burst into operatic song a second later. It’s wild.

The vibe is... a lot

The whole New Orleans setting feels like it was built out of cardboard and optimism. I don’t think there’s a single speck of actual dirt in the entire colony. Everyone is just pristine, wearing velvet, and waiting for the next excuse to hit a high C.

There is this one moment where the singing just… doesn’t stop. It’s like the characters forgot how to speak in regular sentences. I found myself checking my watch, but then suddenly, I was just kind of vibing with it. It’s contagious, in a weird way.

Random thoughts while watching

• The corsets must be incredibly uncomfortable. You can see it in their posture. They look like they’re being held up by invisible wires.
• I kept thinking about how different this is from something like The Gunfighter. No dusty saloons or brooding silence here, just pure noise and glitter.
• Elsa Lanchester is in this, and she’s essentially playing the only person who seems to realize how ridiculous everything is. She steals every scene she's in just by looking annoyed.
• The plot about the "casket girls" arriving in New Orleans is handled with the kind of historical accuracy you’d expect from a cartoon.

It’s not trying to be a deep dive into the human condition. It’s just trying to fill the room with music and make sure the Princess gets the guy. Mission accomplished, I guess?

If you’ve seen Our Dancing Daughters, you know that old studio movies often have this strange, manic energy. This one has that in spades. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely not boring. Sometimes, you just need a movie that isn't trying to change your life. 🎭