BALALAIKA
(M-G-M) This version of the celebrated stage show is all that is meant by an M-G-Magnificent super-musical. Personally I’ve never been able to understand why the stage show of "Balalaika" was so celebrated; and in spite of Ilona Massey, Nelson Eddy, about half the other stars of M-G-M’s paysheet and most of the scenery in their vaults, plus some very good songs (mainly borrowed from the classics) and one or two indifferent ones -in spite of all this, I’m still faintly querulous,
The story, full of nostalgic yearning for the dear dead days beyond recall in Tsarist Russia, is one of those popular romantic confections which suggest that playwrights have at least benefited by the Red Revolution if nobody else has. The "goodies" (with few exceptions) are all grand dukes, ladies-in-waiting, princes, or loyal musicians; the "baddies" (with even fewer exceptions) are all Bolshies of the deepest and most sinister hue. The princely hero loves the chief Bolshie’s daughter. Plots. Bombs. War. Revolution, Chaos. Heartbreak. Emigrés in Paris keeping up the old tradition, Reunion of Prince (now a doorkeeper) with Bolshie’s daughter. All is forgiven, Joyous music. Curtain. People who like this kind of thingand there are plenty of ’em-will like " Balalaika" very much, Even the sight of Nelson Eddy as a Cossack prince won’t worry them. But as you probably gather, it did worry me,
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 51, 14 June 1940, Page 30
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227BALALAIKA New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 51, 14 June 1940, Page 30
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