To me, this movie is perfection.

Pretty Good

A Masterpiece!

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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.

Before I go any further, you need to understand something before you accept my review without question. While I adore films from Hollywood's Golden Age and I think I was born at the wrong time, I never have particularly liked the style of films that Jeanette MacDonald made--particularly those with Nelson Eddy. A while back, I gave a bad review to one of their very old fashioned films and I was beset with angry fans. Who was to know that anyone alive today actually LIKED these operettas?! So, to be fair, understand they just aren't my cup of tea, so to speak.Now another thing you should know is why, in spite of this, I still watched the film. Well, while I generally don't like them, I really, really liked two of the films Ms. MacDonald made with Maurice Chevalier (THE MERRY WIDOW and LOVE ME TONIGHT)--probably because of his charming performance.Unfortunately, while I preferred having Ramon Navarro in the film instead of Nelson Eddy (uggh--the combination of him and MacDonald is too much for me), this isn't saying much as overall I didn't like the film but at least I am intellectually honest enough to give the film a 6 for technical merit.As for what I didn't like, the list would probably be very long, so I'll try to cover the major points. First, while Navarro was a capable leading man in the silent days, his transition to sound wasn't great due to his strong accent. While it got easier to understand him in some later sound films, here it is quite difficult for my American ear--perhaps others might have an easier time of this and it would have helped if the videotape had been close captioned. But what was apparent regardless of this was that Navarro couldn't sing well at all and couldn't come close to keeping up with Jeanette. Second, there was just too much singing. While I sometimes enjoy a good musical, there was so much singing and stage productions near the end that I tended to speed through some of them. Third, the Technicolor used on one small sequence at the end of the film looked just awful. I can't blame the people who made the film but those who released it on video, as it desperately needs restoration. It was fuzzy and garish and I doubt this was Technicolor's fault--particularly as I have seen Two-color Technicolor films that look a lot better and it's a much more primitive process than the Three-strip Technicolor used here.Now there were a few things I liked. Charles Butterworth seems totally out of place in the film and just wanders about saying inane things. This actually IMPROVED the film and kept me laughing--particularly when the prima donna of the opera turned out to be very old and Butterworth suggested they change the plot to make it the love between a man and his mother (instead of his girlfriend)--even though it was clearly a romance! He said that perhaps people wouldn't mind and were broadminded about the whole thing!!! DO NOT READ FURTHER--MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!STOP READING NOW!! I MEAN IT--KEEP YOUR LITTLE ILLUSIONS AND STOP READING!!THIS MEANS YOU!! STOP!!! WELL, DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!!!The romance between Navarro and MacDonald was difficult to believe for me and other lovers of film trivia because although I have read that Mr. Navarro was a wonderful man, he was also quite gay. Sorry to spoil the illusion, but I did warn you!! On the other hand, since it appears that the two are cohabiting in part of the film, this might make some a bit more comfortable since they weren't married.

This is a delightful, free-spirited musical gem from MGM. It has the feel of the risque Paramount musicals of the era. Jeanette MacDonald and Ramon Novarro are lovers who co-habitat (not an issue here!) and nurture each other in their respective musical careers. Jerome Kern's score is wonderful -- the kind of tunes that stay with you, "Try to Forget", "The Night Was Made For Love", "She Didn't Say Yes". Great dialogue and comic relief and a few emotional snarls give the film some complexity. The musical numbers are innovative and interestingly filmed -- they compliment the score. The atmosphere in Brussels is highlighted by a variety of characters in the arts community. The film has a musical fluidity. Other than the stilted staging of the 3-strip Technicolor ending, this film deserves more attention.

Witty film is powered along by the energy of Ramon Novarro. His exceptional work in this film reveals his enormous talent for comedy and drama. The scene where he pretends not to love Jeanette, so she will leave him for her career, is superbly under-stated and very moving.Jeanette's not bad either but a bit too florid. Great supporting cast, especially an hilarious Charles Butterworth, and excellent direction make this a film not to miss. I hated most of the music though - hideous operetta.And don't turn the colour down - the last scene bursts into rather lurid technicolour.