The Great Victor Herbert
“Hear 28 Victor Herbert Melodies”
Synopsis
In his last film assignment, portly Walter Connolly fills the title role (in more ways than one) in The Great Victor Herbert. Very little of Herbert's life story is incorporated in the screenplay (a closing title actually apologizes for the film's paucity of cold hard facts); instead, the writers allow the famed composer's works to speak for themselves. In the tradition of one of his own operettas, Herbert spends most of his time patching up the shaky marriage between tenor John Ramsey (Allan Jones) and Louise Hall (Mary Martin). Many of Herbert's most famous compositions are well in evidence, including "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "March of the Toys" and "Kiss Me Again", the latter performed con brio by teenaged coloratura Susanna Foster. Evidently, the producers were able to secure the film rights for the Herbert songs, but not for the stage productions in which they appeared, which may explain such bizarre interpolations as having a song from Naughty Marietta.
Top Cast
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Allan Jones
John Ramsey
Mary Martin
Louise Hall
Walter Connolly
Victor Herbert
Lee Bowman
Dr. Richard Moore
Susanna Foster
Peggy
Judith Barrett
Marie Clark
Jerome Cowan
Barney Harris
John Garrick
Warner Bryant
Pierre Watkin
Albert Martin
Hal K. Dawson
George Faller
Richard Tucker
Michael Brown
Mary Currier
Mrs. Victor Herbert
Emmett Vogan
Forbes
James Finlayson
Lamplighter
Sandra Lee Richards
Peggy - as a Young Girl
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 29, 1939
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Andrew L. Stone
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Lively, Russel Crouse
- Original Score
- Arthur Lange, Phil Boutelje
- Original Title
- The Great Victor Herbert
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Andrew L. Stone
Robert Lively, Russel Crouse, Andrew L. Stone, William LeBaron, Henry Martyn Blossom, Glen MacDonough, Buddy G. DeSylva, Harry B. Smith, Rida Johnson Young, Robert B. Smith
Arthur Lange, Phil Boutelje
Victor Milner
James Smith
Andrew L. Stone, William LeBaron
Department Leadership Roster
Andrew L. Stone
Director
Robert Lively
Screenplay
Andrew L. Stone
Producer
James Smith
Editor
Edith Head
Costume Design
Victor Milner
Director of Photography
Russel Crouse
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Great Victor Herbert.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Musicals
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Oscar Best Sound Nominees
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Great Victor Herbert
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Great Victor Herbert about?
In his last film assignment, portly Walter Connolly fills the title role (in more ways than one) in The Great Victor Herbert. Very little of Herbert's life story is incorporated in the screenplay (a closing title actually apologizes for the film's paucity of cold hard facts); instead, the writers allow the famed composer's works to speak for themselves. In the tradition of one of his own operettas, Herbert spends most of his time patching up the shaky marriage between tenor John Ramsey (Allan Jones) and Louise Hall (Mary Martin). Many of Herbert's most famous compositions are well in evidence, including "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "March of the Toys" and "Kiss Me Again", the latter performed con brio by teenaged coloratura Susanna Foster. Evidently, the producers were able to secure the film rights for the Herbert songs, but not for the stage productions in which they appeared, which may explain such bizarre interpolations as having a song from Naughty Marietta.
Who directed The Great Victor Herbert?
The Great Victor Herbert was directed by Andrew L. Stone.
Who stars in The Great Victor Herbert?
The principal cast of The Great Victor Herbert includes Allan Jones, Mary Martin, Walter Connolly, Lee Bowman, Susanna Foster.
When was The Great Victor Herbert released and how long is it?
The Great Victor Herbert was released in 1939 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
Who composed the musical score for The Great Victor Herbert?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Great Victor Herbert was composed by Arthur Lange, Phil Boutelje.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Great Victor Herbert?
The Great Victor Herbert holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).