The Films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy
"One of the10 Best Film Booksof the year."Recipient of the Merrill T. McCord Award, forBest Researched Film BookThis book is a must, not only for Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy (separately and together), but also movie musical fans. Eleanor Dugan has written a definitive, authoritative book. It's really essential.This is head and shoulders above the usual "Films of" volumes. The reason is simply that it is beautifully written by someone who is an acknowledged expert on not only MacDonald and Eddy, but also on musical films in general. Ms. Dugan knows her stuff and her "historical overviews" are outstanding and well informed, giving us a vivid view of what was happening in cinema at the time. The author really impressed me with her grasp of the musical as a whole. The individual biographical sections on MacDonald and Eddy are wonderfully detailed and comprehensive.The book reads easily, and at over 600 pages that's a remarkable achievement. You learn about MacDonald and Eddy as well as the development of the screen musical, and you are never bored. Ms. Dugan also did something quite stunning: She wrote long, detailed plots that had me reading, not skimming. She did what others fail to do: she made the plot recaps entertaining. She puts behind-the-scenes data within the plots, making it all the more interesting. I loved the way she handled these sections. I felt that if I missed even one word, I'd miss something of value.Happily, Ms. Dugan resists the temptation to write as a fan. Even though it's clear she is enthusiastic about them, she is objective when it comes to their work. She contributes solid criticism about their films that is most enjoyable. Magnificently done.  --Classic Images Magazine