I Married an Angel (1942) in Color — Starring Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy

I Married an Angel (1942) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover I Married an Angel, the 1942 American musical film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, now available as a professionally colorized version. Based on the 1938 musical comedy of the same name by Rodgers and Hart, the film tells the story of a wealthy banker who seeks true love and finds it in unexpected ways. Popular among the ladies of Budapest, banker Count Willie Palaffi seeks true love as he approaches his 35th birthday. At the last minute, “Whiskers,” his kindly mentor, invites a junior secretary, Anna Zador to the lavish party. The Count’s senior secretary is jealous and arranges for a simple foil and wire angel costume, expecting Anna to be ridiculed. Anna arrives to laughter and snickers, except from the Count who seems enthralled by her simple beauty and kindness. Tired of the party, the Count retires to his room to sleep. Brigitta, an angel, soon flies into his dream life. During his sleep, he discovers what he really desires, and that is Anna to be his wife. This musical comedy combines romantic fantasy with delightful musical numbers as a banker discovers that true love comes in unexpected forms. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Popular among the ladies of Budapest, banker Count Willie Palaffi seeks true love as he approaches his 35th birthday. At the last minute, “Whiskers,” his kindly mentor, invites a junior secretary, Anna Zador to the lavish party. The Count’s senior secretary is jealous and arranges for a simple foil and wire angel costume, expecting Anna to be ridiculed. Anna arrives to laughter and snickers, except from the Count who seems enthralled by her simple beauty and kindness. Tired of the party, the Count retires to his room to sleep. Brigitta, an angel, soon flies into his dream life. During his sleep, he discovers what he really desires, and that is Anna to be his wife.

Count Willie Palaffi, a wealthy and popular banker in Budapest, has grown disillusioned with the superficial relationships that characterize his social life. Despite being admired by many women, he approaches his 35th birthday feeling that true love has eluded him. His mentor, affectionately known as “Whiskers,” recognizes Willie’s loneliness and decides to take matters into his own hands by inviting Anna Zador, a humble junior secretary, to Willie’s elaborate birthday celebration.

The Count’s senior secretary, consumed by jealousy and spite, schemes to humiliate Anna by providing her with a ridiculous foil and wire angel costume instead of proper attire. When Anna arrives at the party dressed in the makeshift costume, the sophisticated guests erupt in laughter and mockery. However, Willie alone sees beyond the costume and the social expectations, finding himself captivated by Anna’s genuine beauty, kindness, and grace.

Exhausted by the party’s superficiality, Willie retires to his bedroom to sleep. In his dreams, he encounters Brigitta, a beautiful angel who embodies the purity and love he has been seeking. The dream sequence reveals Willie’s deepest desires and helps him understand what truly matters in love and relationships. When he awakens, Willie realizes that Anna—with her simple beauty and kind heart—represents the qualities he admired in the angelic Brigitta of his dreams.

The film explores themes of true love versus social expectations, the value of authenticity over appearance, and the idea that love often comes in unexpected packages. Willie’s journey from cynicism about relationships to genuine affection for Anna forms the emotional core of the story. The dream sequence with Brigitta serves as a catalyst for Willie’s self-discovery, helping him recognize that the love he seeks has been present all along in the person he least expected.

Cast & Crew

Director: W. S. Van Dyke

Stars: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, Edward Everett Horton, Binnie Barnes, Reginald Owen, Douglass Dumbrille, Mona Maris

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

I Married an Angel was originally filmed in black and white, with cinematography that captured the elegance of Budapest society and the magical quality of Willie’s dream sequence. This professionally colorized restoration enhances every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the lavish birthday party to the ethereal dream world where Willie encounters his angel. The colorized version reveals new visual richness in the film’s settings, where the period-accurate 1940s costumes, ballroom interiors, and fantastical dream sequences gain authenticity that transports viewers to the romantic world of Hollywood musicals. Jeanette MacDonald’s legendary voice and screen presence gain additional dimension in color, her dual performance as both Anna and the angelic Brigitta showcasing her versatility as both actress and singer. Nelson Eddy’s powerful baritone and romantic charisma shine with new vibrancy, his chemistry with MacDonald—their final on-screen pairing together—becoming even more apparent through colorization. The musical numbers, featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart as well as additional compositions by Herbert Stothart, come alive with new visual splendor in color. Now also available in colour.

Buy I Married an Angel in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1942, I Married an Angel represents the final collaboration between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, one of Hollywood’s most beloved on-screen musical couples. The pair had starred together in eight previous films for MGM, becoming synonymous with operetta-style musicals that showcased their exceptional vocal talents and romantic chemistry. This film adaptation of Rodgers and Hart’s 1938 Broadway musical marked the end of an era for the MacDonald-Eddy partnership, as it would be their last film together.

Directed by W. S. Van Dyke, a veteran director known for his work with MGM’s biggest stars, the film exemplifies the studio system’s ability to produce lavish musical productions during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Van Dyke’s direction balances the film’s musical numbers with its romantic fantasy elements, creating the dreamlike quality that characterizes MacDonald-Eddy films. The production values typical of MGM musicals are evident throughout, from elaborate set designs to carefully choreographed musical sequences.

The film’s adaptation from the Broadway musical involved significant changes to both story and score, as was common with film adaptations of stage musicals during this period. While the original Rodgers and Hart musical told a different story about a banker who marries a real angel and learns to tolerate human imperfections, the film version transformed the concept into a more conventional romantic fantasy with dream sequences rather than literal supernatural elements. The film score included new songs written by Herbert Stothart with lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright, alongside some Rodgers and Hart compositions.

Despite being the least successful film of 1942 for MGM—earning $664,000 at the US and Canadian box office and $572,000 elsewhere while costing the studio a loss of $725,000—I Married an Angel has gained appreciation over time as the final chapter in the MacDonald-Eddy filmography. The film’s release during World War II, when audiences were seeking escapist entertainment, may have contributed to its commercial challenges, but its artistic merits and the historic significance of the MacDonald-Eddy partnership have ensured its place in Hollywood musical history. Through modern colorization, this musical classic reaches new audiences who can appreciate Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy’s final on-screen pairing, its memorable musical numbers, and its place in the history of American cinema. Now also available en couleur.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: English original mono
• Runtime: 84 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who stars in I Married an Angel?
A: Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy star in their final on-screen pairing together, with supporting performances by Edward Everett Horton, Binnie Barnes, and Reginald Owen.

Q: Is I Married an Angel based on a Broadway musical?
A: Yes, the film is based on the 1938 Rodgers and Hart musical of the same name, though the film version has significant changes to story and score.

Q: What is the plot of I Married an Angel?
A: A wealthy banker seeking true love discovers that his ideal match is a humble secretary who appears to him as an angel in his dreams.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as MP4 and MKV files that play on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• New Moon (1940)
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• Maytime (1937)
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