Glamorous Night
Encyclopedia
Glamorous Night is a musical
with a book and music by Ivor Novello
and lyrics by Christopher Hassall
, Novello's collaborator in six of the eight Novello musicals staged between 1935 and 1951. Glamorous Night was the first of several Novello musicals in the 1930s given an expensive, spectacular production, with several scene changes and a large cast, including many extras and dancers. Scenes included a London street, the set of an operetta performed in the fictional country of Krasnia, shipboard skating and assassination scenes, the sinking of the ship, a bustling gypsy wedding and a Royal ballroom.
The musical was first performed in London in 1935. In 1937 it was adapted as a film of the same name
starring Mary Ellis
and Otto Kruger
.
in London on 2 May 1935, but had a limited run due to the pre-booking of a pantomime at the theatre. It re-opened at the London Coliseum in May 1936 for another short run. The role of Anthony Allen was played by Novello, and that of the gypsy (Militza Hajos) was played by Mary Ellis
. Others in the original cast were Peter Graves
, Olive Gilbert
, Roma Beaumont, Zena Dare
, Robert Andrews and Elisabeth Welch
.
A movie was made of Glamorous Night
in 1937, with Barry MacKay
taking the role of Anthony Allen, Otto Kruger
as King Stephen and Mary Ellis reprising her stage role of Militza.
"-type country. There he meets a gypsy princess, who is engaged to marry the King of Krasnia. Allen falls in love with her after saving her life in a shipwreck. For the good of the kingdom, he denies his love and gives her up. The gypsies help the King quell a revolution. The inventor returns to England to watch the king's wedding on his new invention.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book and music by Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
and lyrics by Christopher Hassall
Christopher Hassall
Christopher Vernon Hassall was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after working together in the same touring company...
, Novello's collaborator in six of the eight Novello musicals staged between 1935 and 1951. Glamorous Night was the first of several Novello musicals in the 1930s given an expensive, spectacular production, with several scene changes and a large cast, including many extras and dancers. Scenes included a London street, the set of an operetta performed in the fictional country of Krasnia, shipboard skating and assassination scenes, the sinking of the ship, a bustling gypsy wedding and a Royal ballroom.
The musical was first performed in London in 1935. In 1937 it was adapted as a film of the same name
Glamorous Night (film)
Glamorous Night is a 1937 British drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Mary Ellis, Otto Kruger and Victor Jory. It is an adaptation of the play Glamorous Night by Ivor Novello.-Cast:* Mary Ellis ... Melitza Hjos...
starring Mary Ellis
Mary Ellis
Mary Ellis was a long-lived star of the British stage best known for her roles in the genre of musical theatre. After appearing with the Metropolitan Opera beginning in 1918, later appearing opposite Enrico Caruso, she acted on Broadway, creating the title role in Rose Marie...
and Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger was an American actor who began his career in 1915. His career was most prolific during the 1930s and 1940s.-Career:...
.
Productions
Glamorous Night was produced by Ivor Novello. The musical opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury LaneTheatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
in London on 2 May 1935, but had a limited run due to the pre-booking of a pantomime at the theatre. It re-opened at the London Coliseum in May 1936 for another short run. The role of Anthony Allen was played by Novello, and that of the gypsy (Militza Hajos) was played by Mary Ellis
Mary Ellis
Mary Ellis was a long-lived star of the British stage best known for her roles in the genre of musical theatre. After appearing with the Metropolitan Opera beginning in 1918, later appearing opposite Enrico Caruso, she acted on Broadway, creating the title role in Rose Marie...
. Others in the original cast were Peter Graves
Peter Graves, 8th Baron Graves
Peter George Wellesley Graves, 8th Baron Graves , was a British actor.Born in London, Graves was the son of Henry Algernon Claude Graves, 7th Baron Graves. Admiral Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves, was his great-great-great-grandfather...
, Olive Gilbert
Olive Gilbert
Olive Sarah Gilbert was an operatic singer and actress, who performed in many of Ivor Novello's musicals.-Biography:Gilbert was born in Carmarthen, Wales....
, Roma Beaumont, Zena Dare
Zena Dare
Zena Dare was an English singer and actress who was famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre and comedic plays in the first half of the 20th century, and for her role as Mrs...
, Robert Andrews and Elisabeth Welch
Elisabeth Welch
thumb|right|200pxElisabeth Welch was an American born singer, actress, and entertainer whose career spanned seven decades, many years of which she was based in Britain....
.
A movie was made of Glamorous Night
Glamorous Night (film)
Glamorous Night is a 1937 British drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Mary Ellis, Otto Kruger and Victor Jory. It is an adaptation of the play Glamorous Night by Ivor Novello.-Cast:* Mary Ellis ... Melitza Hjos...
in 1937, with Barry MacKay
Barry MacKay (actor)
Barry MacKay was a British actor.He was most prominently seen in light comedic roles in the British cinema of the 1930s and is perhaps best known as Jessie Matthews' leading man in Evergreen , Gangway and Sailing Along .Other notable roles include Lieutenant Somerville in Brown on Resolution and...
taking the role of Anthony Allen, Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger was an American actor who began his career in 1915. His career was most prolific during the 1930s and 1940s.-Career:...
as King Stephen and Mary Ellis reprising her stage role of Militza.
Synopsis
Anthony Allen, a young inventor, has created a successful television. In order to prevent the competition and possible demise of radio, the chief of a radio organisation pays Allen not to promote the invention. Allen travels to Central Europe and goes to the kingdom of Krasnia. Like many plays of this period, Krasnia is a "RuritaniaRuritania
Ruritania is a fictional country in central Europe which forms the setting for three books by Anthony Hope: The Prisoner of Zenda , The Heart of Princess Osra , and Rupert of Hentzau...
"-type country. There he meets a gypsy princess, who is engaged to marry the King of Krasnia. Allen falls in love with her after saving her life in a shipwreck. For the good of the kingdom, he denies his love and gives her up. The gypsies help the King quell a revolution. The inventor returns to England to watch the king's wedding on his new invention.
Principal characters
- Anthony Allen - an inventor
- Militza Hajos - a Gypsy
- Phoebe - her maid
- Stephen - King of Krasnia
- Nico - a footman
Musical numbers
- Glamorous Night
- Fold your wings
- Shine through my Dreams
- When a Gypsy Played
- Far Away in Shanty Town
- Why Isn't It You?
- The Girl I Knew
- Some Day My Heart Will Awake
External links
- Glamorous Night at the NODANW site