Melba (1953)

The highly fictionalized story of Nellie Melba, Australian-born soprano who rose to operatic fame in the latter part of the 19th century and who had a dessert and form of dry toast (true) named after her. In her film debut, the Metropolitan Opera's Patrice Munsel, plays the title role in a film that primarily strings together eight excerpts from well-known operas as well as one or two lighter numbers and a montage of famous opera personalities featuring the chorus of the Covent Garden Opera and members of the Sadler's Wells Ballet. The story follows the career of Melba from the time she left her father's Australian cattle ranch, and a suitor, to travel to Paris to get her voice training, and picks up another suitor. She debuts in Brussels and is a smash hit followed by international fame. The suitor from Australia shows up in Monte Carlo, marries her and soon is cast in the role of "Mr. Melba" until he can take it no longer and returns to Australia, while Melba decides her voice belongs to the world and sadly goes on alone.