A Rare Single-Performance Release and Much Fun
When the Voice of Firestone programs were being released on videos, one of the last to be put out was the one and only appearance of diva Jeanette MacDonald. Other offerings contained 3 or 4 appearances by the specific star, and producers figured few would pay full price for just a single show. However, they risked it and Jeanette's one-performance video proved to be one of their best sellers. The entire show is a delight, especially the live aspect that finds a dancer accidentally jerking Jeanette in the wrong direction and her charmingly waggling her finger at him later in the song, "naughty naughty." Also, the lighting of the show was especially flattering to the 47-year-old singer. She arrived at the broadcast studio to find they were still using the harsh, primitive TV lighting that could make a teenager look haggard. She quickly phoned her husband, Gene Raymond, and he arrived to instruct technicians in more sophisticated Hollywood methods, allowing the beautiful Ms. MacDonald...
Save your money
What a disappointment. Jeanette sings only three songs and none of them real favorites. Yes, she appears lovely as ever and graceful but the show is dominated by the orchestra playing pieces. Very little of substance from Jeanette.
Vibrant and Vivacious
This is a treat for fans of Jeanette MacDonald - her appearance on a 1950 "Voice of Firestore" television program. She is in fine form as she sings, dances and engages her audience with charm and grace. The lighting is uneven, and she is reported to have instructed the crew how and where to focus the lights, since she moves about the stage as she sings - unlike other performers who were more static. The entire program is great fun and representative of her film and stage career, but perhaps the most interesting is the "Italian Street Song" where one of the chorus boys tugs her arm as she moves away from him, jerking her. She responds by continuing the song and wagging her finger at him as she holds the final high note for an impossibly long time. MacDonald fans will be delighted to add this historical disc to their library.
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