New Moon (1930 film)

New Moon is the name of two different film versions of the operetta The New Moon with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and others. The original stage version premiered on Broadway in 1928. The 1930 version of New Moon is a 1930 black-and-white American musical film, and is also known as Komissa Strogoff in Greece, Nymånen in Denmark and Passione cosacca in Italy.

The 1930 film, directed by Jack Conway, starred Grace Moore and Lawrence Tibbett. It had an entirely different plot to the original play and is set in Russia. A 1940 film of the same name, also based on the operetta directed by Robert Z. Leonard and W. S. Van Dyke (uncredited), starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and also reworked the plot, though it was slightly more faithful than the 1930 version. However, the music was not always presented faithfully. The 1930 version added new songs not by Romberg, and the 1940 version turns the melancholy tango number "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise", originally sung by the hero's best friend, into a cheerful little ditty sung by Eddy while he shines his shoes.

Synopsis

New Moon is the name of a ship crossing the Caspian Sea. A young man named Lt. Petroff meets Princess Tanya and they have a ship-board romance. Upon arriving at the port of Krasnov, Petroff learns that Tanya is engaged to Governor Brusiloff.

Petroff, disillusioned, crashes the ball to talk with Tanya. When the couple are found by Brusiloff, they invent a story about her lost bracelet. To reward him, and remove him, Brusiloff sends Petroff to the remote, and deadly, Fort Darvaz. Soon, the big battle against overwhelming odds will begin.

Cast

• Lawrence Tibbett as Lieutenant Michael Petroff
• Grace Moore as Princess Tanya Strogoff
• Adolphe Menjou as Governor Boris Brusiloff
• Roland Young as Count Igor Strogoff
• Gus Shy as Potkin
• Emily Fitzroy as Countess Anastasia Strogoff

Soundtrack

• "Lover, Come Back to Me"

(1928)

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Played during the opening credits

Sung by Lawrence Tibbett at the tavern

Reprised by him and Grace Moore at the fort

• "Farmer's Daughter"

(1930)

Music by Herbert Stothart

Lyrics by Clifford Grey

Played by the band on the ship and sung in a gypsy language by Lawrence Tibbett

Reprised by him with an English translation

Played on piano and sung in the gypsy language by Grace Moore

• "Wanting You"

(1928)

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Sung a cappella by Lawrence Tibbett on the ship

Reprised by him and Grace Moore on the ship

• "One Kiss"

(1928)

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Played on piano (and studio orchestra) and sung by Grace Moore

• "What Is Your Price Madam?"

(1930)

Music by Herbert Stothart

Lyrics by Clifford Grey

Played by the orchestra at the ball and sung by Lawrence Tibbett

• "Stout Hearted Men"

(1928)

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Sung by Lawrence Tibbett and soldiers at the fort

Reprised by the men returning from the battle

Background and production

• The operetta The New Moon opened on Broadway in New York City on 19 September 1928 and closed on 14 December 1929 after 519 performances. The leads were played by Robert Halliday and Evelyn Herbert, and the supporting cast included Gus Shy, who also in this film.
• Some production charts included Hale Hamilton and Marie Mosquini in the cast, but they were not seen in the movie.
• Modern sources include in this film the songs "Marianne", "Funny Little Sailor Man" and "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" (all from the original stage production), but they were not heard.
• The credits list New Moon as the title of the original operetta, but its title was The New Moon.
• The production dates were from 22 July 1930 until 3 October 1930.

Film Connections

• New Moon is a version of New Moon (1940) and Great Performances: The New Moon (#17.2)" (1989), as they are all based on the stage play The New Moon.
• New Moon is featured in the 1954 film Deep in My Heart – the Romberg written production number.

External links

• New Moon (1930) at the Internet Movie Database