Elissa Landi

Elissa Landi has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to Motion Pictures, at 1615 Vine St. Jeanette MacDonald was given two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to Recordings and Motion Pictures. She died from cancer in Kingston, New York. Jeanette MacDonald: The Irving Stone Letters annotated by Sharon Rich (2002), ISBN 0971199841, is a compilation of Jeanette's handwritten letters to a beau from her Broadway years (with whom she also discusses her Hollywood years), while Jeanette MacDonald Autobiography: The Lost Manuscript annotated by Sharon Rich (2004), ISBN 0971199884 presents MacDonald's unpublished autobiography. She became a United States Citizen in 1943, and dedicted herself to writing, producing six novels and a series of poems. Sweethearts by Sharon Rich (revised edition,2001), ISBN 0971199817, discusses MacDonald's ill-fated affair with Eddy. After only two more films she retired, in 1943. However, Sharon Rich, a close friend of MacDonald's sister Blossom, has written several books supporting these rumors with excerpts from letters, diaries and interviews.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed her to a contract and after a couple of romantic dramas she played the cousin of Myrna Loy in the very popular After the Thin Man (1936). A biography authorized by Jeanette's widower Gene Raymond, Hollywood Diva by Edward Baron Turk (2000), ISBN 0520222539, denies there was any such affair. Her contract with Fox was abruptly cancelled in 1936 as a result of her refusal to accept a particular role. After her death, rumors began to emerge that Jeanette MacDonald had an off-screen relationship with Nelson Eddy. She was paired successfully with some of the major leading men, such as David Manners, Warner Baxter, and Ronald Colman in romantic dramas, before appearing in the box office hit The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) with Robert Donat. Jeanette died in Houston, Texas and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. De Mille's The Sign of the Cross (1932), but was overshadowed by Claudette Colbert who played the flashier role of the temptress. Although they were married until her death from heart disease in 1965, they had no children.

She played the heroine in Cecil B. In 1937, Jeanette MacDonald married Gene Raymond, with whom she co-starred in 1941's Smilin' Through. She was signed to a contact by 20th Century Fox in 1931. She did not confine herself to operetta, appearing in stage productions of grand opera, including Charles Gounod's Faust in 1943 and 1951, the latter being her last full length opera performance. During the 1920s she appeared in British, French, and German films before travelling to the United States to appear in a Broadway production of A Farewell to Arms. Cast opposite Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy in San Francisco (1936), she was given some key dramatic scenes, but also contributed several obligatory musical numbers. She would return to writing during lulls in her acting career. On very rare occasions she was given roles that allowed to extend her range as a dramatic actress, however she was still expected to sing.

Her first ambition was to be a writer, and she wrote her first novel at the age of twenty. The latter, where she ages from a young girl to an old woman, is said to have been her favourite. Born Elizabeth Marie Christine Kühnelt in Venice, Italy, Landi was raised in Austria and educated in England. It was not until Irving Thalberg lured her to Metro Goldwyn Mayer in 1934, that she had her biggest hits including The Merry Widow (1934) (with Maurice Chevalier), Naughty Marietta (1935), the above-mentioned Rose-Marie, and Maytime (with Nelson Eddy). Rumoured to be a descendant of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, she was noted for her aristocratic bearing. Jeanette MacDonald performed on Broadway a further nine years, progressing to leading roles in Yes, Yes, Yvette (1927), Sunny Days (1928), Angela (1928) and Boom Boom (1929), before she was chosen by the Hollywood director Ernst Lubitsch to play the lead in his new film musical The Love Parade in 1929. Elissa Landi (December 6, 1904 – October 21, 1948) was an Italian born actress who was popular in Hollywood films of the 1920s and 1930s. Of her start in Broadway, many years later she told Ed Sullivan, "I got a crick in my neck and $40 a week".

An audition was arranged by her sister for a part as dancer in the chorus of another production. Jeanette got the part and was given permission by her parents to take the job. At the age of 16, accompanied by her father, she went to see her older sister, Blossom Rock, perform on Broadway in New York. Jeanette Anna MacDonald was born in Philadelphia and made her professional debut at the age of six, singing "Old Mother Hubbard" in a charity opera at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. Jeanette MacDonald (June 18, 1903 - January 14, 1965) was a singer and actress best known for her film duets with Nelson Eddy, such as Rose-Marie (aka Indian Love Call) (1936).

The Love Parade (1929). The Vagabond King (1930). Paramount on Parade (1930) (cut from final print). Monte Carlo (1930).

Let's Go Native (1930). The Lottery Bride (1930). Oh, For a Man! (1930). Don't Bet on Women (1930).

Annabelle's Affairs (1931). One Hour With You (1932). Love Me Tonight (1932). The Cat and the Fiddle (1933).

The Merry Widow (1934). Naughty Marietta (1935). Rose Marie (1936). San Francisco (1936).

Maytime (1937). The Firefly (1937). The Girl of the Golden West (1938). Sweethearts (1938).

Broadway Serenade (1939). New Moon (1940). Bitter Sweet (1940). Smilin' Through (1941).

I Married An Angel (1942). Cairo (1942). Follow the Boys (1943). Three Daring Daughters (1948).

The Sun Comes Up (1949).