Bitter Sweet

Play trailer

Bitter Sweet

Released Nov 8, 1940

1h 34m

Musical

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

2 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Sarah Millick (Jeanette MacDonald) is engaged to marry Harry Daventry (Edward Ashley), but it's an arranged marriage. She doesn't love Harry; her real love is her music teacher, Carl Linden (Nelson Eddy). Against her parents' wishes, Sarah leaves Harry for Carl and the two run off to Vienna to get married. Once there, they struggle to make ends meet. Carl tries desperately to sell an operetta he wrote, while Sarah fights off the leering approaches of Baron von Tranisch (George Sanders).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

George Orwell

Time and Tide

This third version which retains none of the atmosphere of the original play and has altered its plot to the point of making it meaningless.

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Made at the height of their popularity, this charming Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald operetta was nominated for two Oscars, cinematography and Art Direction.

Rated: B+

Apr 7, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

A dud. The worst of the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/04/21

Full Review

Audience Member

When I saw that this film was in color I knew it must be a high-budget film considering how scarce color movies were during the early 40's. Therefore I expected a high-budget plot to go with it. It contained a few wholesome, romantic highlights, but the unexpected dramatic death scene at the end of the movie just didn't fit with the overall bland comedy/romance mood of the film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Even though Noel Coward claimed to have cried from despair after seeing it, this is one of the better MacDonald-Eddy operettas; the two singers are in fine form singing "I'll See You Again" and the MGM Technicolor production is lovely to look at.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Made at the height of their popularity, this charming Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald operetta was nominated for two Oscars, cinematography and Art Direction.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Turn of the century piece about a song student, Sarah Millick, MacDonald, who falls for her teacher, Carl Linden, Eddy. They move to Vienna, struggle at first to become singers playing on the street until they are heard outside of a gambling house by Baron Von Tranisch, George Sanders. Carl writes Sarah an opera which is not produced until after Carl is killed by the Baron. The opera is a success but it is "bitter sweet" for Sarah. The opera stage productions are extravagant and dazzling. While the movie serves as not much more than a vehicle for the songs it is still worth a watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Some good humor, but not as good as Naughty Marietta. The character parts kept me from turning it off.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

W. S. Van Dyke II

Director

Jeanette MacDonald

Sarah Millick

Nelson Eddy

Carl Linden

George Sanders

Baron Von Tranisch

Ian Hunter

Lord Shayne

Felix Bressart

Max

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

Sarah Millick (Jeanette MacDonald) is engaged to marry Harry Daventry (Edward Ashley), but it's an arranged marriage. She doesn't love Harry; her real love is her music teacher, Carl Linden (Nelson Eddy). Against her parents' wishes, Sarah leaves Harry for Carl and the two run off to Vienna to get married. Once there, they struggle to make ends meet. Carl tries desperately to sell an operetta he wrote, while Sarah fights off the leering approaches of Baron von Tranisch (George Sanders).

Director: W. S. Van Dyke II
Producer: Victor Saville
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 34m

Most Popular at Home Now