I Live for Love

Everett Marshall only appeared in two films, this one and "Dixiana". While he was the leading man in each, he chose a different career path. He was a great operatic singer and simply chose to stay on the big stage where he made a fortune and gained fame. In hindsight, I think that was an excellent choice--especially since this sort of singing would only last in films until the early 1940s with the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy films.

Marshall plays Roger Kerry--a singer who is about to become a radio sensation. However, his introduction to the American public isn't perfect as the show also featured Donna (Delores Del Rio), a very tempestuous stage star herself. They immediately take a dislike for each other but both are very successful over the air. Then their respective agents come up with a plan...play up their hatred to manipulate them and get the public to love them. They also then spread the story that the two have just fallen in love...though they hate each other. But, in a case of art imitating life, they do fall in love. But what will they each do? She has Broadway calling to her and he places like the Met. What's to become of them and their careers?

The story works reasonably well because the supporting actors are quite nice. But the story bogs down for me when the stars break into song...mostly because the singing, while great for the 1930s, is very old fashioned and dull when heard today to most folks. Still, a clever story makes it enjoyable in spite of the high-brow singing.