The Desert Song

Nelson Eddy is back on screen, starring in a 1955 TV version of Romberg's Desert Song. Nelson, best known for a popular series of operettas with Jeanette MacDonald, has matured into a ruggedly, handsome man, still blessed with the gorgeous baritone voice that thrilled millions. His costar, and longtime singing partner, is the talented, statuesque beauty. Gale Sherwood, whose lilting soprano voice blends perfectly with his. Together, they face the hazards of live TV, and escape unscathed, without missing a beat. The production, wisely relies on the music to tell the story, and along with love scenes, culminating in kisses that are unabashedly intimate, appears far more adult than previous film versions. Unfortunately, reflecting the shortsightedness of early TV,the color version no longer exists. Only a black and white copy has survived, leaving us to only imagine the beauty of the original showing. That aside, the sheer pleasure of seeing Nelson Eddy and his lovely partner is a rare treat to be treasured.