Melba (1953)
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American opera and musical-comedy soprano Patrice Munsel plays the title role in this filmed biography of famed Australian diva Nellie Melba. The story begins on Nellie's father's cattle farm, where she grew up under her given name of Nelly Mitchell. While studying in Paris with the great Madame Marchesi (Martita Hunt), Nelly is advised to change her name to something more exotic. After attaining international success, Nellie returns to Australia to marry her erstwhile sweetheart (John McCallum), who eventually realizes that he can never find happiness so long as he is forced to share Mme. Melba with the rest of the world. Melba was directed by Lewis Milestone, who'd originally come to Australia to lens 20th Century-Fox's Kangaroo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Patrice Munsel - Nellie Melba
- John McCallum - Charles Armstrong
- Alec Clunes - Cesar Carlton
- Sybil Thorndike - Queen Victoria
- Beatrice Varley - Aunt Catherine
- Theodore Bikel - Paul Brotha
- Cecile Chevreau - Annette
- Robert Morley - Oscar Hammerstein
- John Justin - Eric Walton
- Martita Hunt - Mme. Marchesi
- Joseph Tomelty - Thomas Mitchell
- Marcel Poncin - Roger
- Violetta Elvin - Prima Ballerina
- Charles Craig
- Director(s):
- Lewis Milestone
- Writer(s):
- Harry Kurnitz
- Producer(s):
- Sam Spiegel
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