The Firefly is a 1937 American historical musical film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Jeanette MacDonald, Allan Jones and Warren William. The film is an adaptation of the operetta of the same name by composer Rudolf Friml and librettist Otto A. Harbach that premiered on Broadway in 1912. The film used nearly all of the music from the operetta but jettisoned the plot in favor of a new storyline set in Spain during the time of the Emperor Napoleon I. It added a new song, "The Donkey Serenade" (a reworking by Herbert Stothart of Friml's 1918 orchestral piece 'Chanson'), which became extremely popular, as was one of the Friml songs, "Giannina Mia". The original release prints of the film were elaborately tinted with Sepia-Blue, Sepia-Orange and Sepia-Blue-Pink.
Plot
Secret agent Nina Maria Azara (Jeanette MacDonald) is working undercover for the King of Spain (Tom Rutherford) as a singer known as the "Mosca del Fuego" or "Firefly." Despite her love for Captain Andre (Allan Jones), she tricks him so that his general will change the French defensive positions, thus allowing the Duke of Wellington to win the Battle of Vitoria. In the end Nina and Andre leave together for a new life in peace.
Cast
Jeanette MacDonald as Nina Maria Azara
Allan Jones as Don Diego / Captain Andre
Warren William as Colonel de Rouchemont
Billy Gilbert as Inn Keeper
Douglass Dumbrille as Marquis de Melito
Henry Daniell as General Savary
Leonard Penn as Etienne DuBois
Tom Rutherford as King Ferdinard (as Tom Rutherfurd)
Belle Mitchell as Lola
George Zucco as St. Clair, Secret Service Chief
Corbet Morris as Duvall (as Corbett Morris)
Matthew Boulton as Duke of Wellington
Riley Hill (credited as Roy Harris) - Lieutenant
Frank Campeau as Beggar (uncredited)
Alan Curtis as Soldier (uncredited)
Brandon Hurst as General (uncredited)
Musical numbers
LOVE IS LIKE A FIREFLY
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach, Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
DANSE JEANETTE
Written by Herbert Stothart
Danced by Jeanette MacDonald
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
THE DONKEY SERENADE
Music by Bob Wright, Chet Forrest, and Herbert Stothart, adapted from "Chanson" by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
Sung by Allan Jones
SYMPATHY
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
A WOMAN'S KISS
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
Sung by Allan Jones
Backgroung vocal by Jeanette MacDonald
GIANNINA MIA
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Allan Jones
HE WHO LOVES AND RUNS AWAY
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
WHEN A MAID COMES KNOCKING AT YOUR HEART
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach, Bob Wright & Chet Forrest
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
I LOVE YOU DON DIEGO
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald
OJOS ROJOS (uncredited)
Argentine Folk Song
Arranged by Manuel Alvarez Maciste
Played by Manuel Alvarez Maciste
PARA LA SALUD
Arranged by Herbert Stothart
Danced by Jeanette MacDonald
THE DONKEY SERENADE
Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart
Lyrics by Bob Wright and Chet Forrest
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones
FINALE: "GIANNINA MIA"
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones
ENGLISH MARCH
Sung by Chorus
References
Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.), pub. Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-634-00765-3 page 74