StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Mabel Munoz Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

HotToastyRag In The Toast of New Orleans, Kathryn Grayson plays a beautiful opera singer with a beautiful soprano singing voice. As you can imagine, she pulls it off wonderfully; the problem with this movie has nothing to do with her performance. She's romantically involved with her manager, the classy, handsome, wealthy, supportive David Niven. So far so good. Enter Mario Lanzo, a poor, crude, ignorant fisherman who happens to have been blessed with a natural singing talent. Now, why would Kathryn-who has everything a woman could ask for in her career and relationship-be drawn to Mario? That, my friends, is the problem with The Toast of New Orleans. If they wanted us to sympathize with her conflict, they shouldn't have cast David Niven!To give her credit, when Mario first imposes himself, Kathryn wants nothing to do with him. He literally interrupts her singing with his own, topping her high notes and singing as loud as he can without bursting a lung. However, The Niv is intrigued by Mario's untrained talent and attempts to turn him into a genteel opera singer to match Kathryn. Some of the scenes are cute, but the basic story just doesn't make any sense because not only is The Niv a class act, but his character is written to have no flaws. If he's going to be as gorgeous in Technicolor as David Niven is, he should at least be written with flaws, as he was in Please Don't Eat the Daisies. The big song from The Toast of New Orleans is the lovely ballad "Be My Love", and while I'm not really a fan of Mario Lanzo's voice, the duet he sings with Kathryn is pretty cute. If that's one of your favorite songs, you might want to watch the movie that introduced it to the world. I've been overly harsh on this movie, but it really isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. If you like Kathryn Grayson or operatic singing, you might like this cutesy musical.

writers_reign It seems fairly obvious that at MGM they were staunch believers in the saying if it ain't broke don't fix it. In 1949 they launched their new signing Mario Lanza in That Midnight Kiss; he played a truck driver who both liked to and could sing as the insipid Kathryn Grayson discovered when he delivered a piano to her home. By chance Grayson was a fledgling opera singer and gave Lanza a send-in with Jose Iturbi. In passing Grayson fell for Lanza but he had an 'understanding' with Marjorie Reynolds. So much for plot. The film made big bucks so they remade it the next year. This time Lanza is a shrimp fisherman who likes to and can sing, Grayson is now a full-fledged opera diva who discovers him by chance and this time around, just so we can't say 'not again', it's Lanza who falls for her and her that has an 'understanding' with David Niven as the impresario who gives Lanza a crack at Madame Butterly. In the previous film J.Carroll Naish scored as Lanza's father so, for extra insurance, he's here again but this time as Lanza's uncle. Subtle, right. There was only one 'new' song in That Midnight Kiss so MGM put Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodzsy to work and they came up with Lanza's first million seller Be My Love albeit Grayson sings it first and then they duet. By 1950 there was probably just enough post-war hysteria sill hanging around to make this palatable.

Derek McGovern This is without a doubt the most consistently cheerful of Lanza's movies, and a real hoot. Mario's hitherto unknown comedic skills are a big surprise, and the supporting cast of J Carroll Naish and David Niven is wonderful. I wish I could say the same for co-star Kathryn Grayson, but her shrill coloratura, grating vibrato and minimal acting skills make her a poor match for Lanza.This is the film that introduced Lanza's signature song, Be My Love. The scene in which the song is first sung (as a duet between Grayson and Lanza) is great fun to watch, with both singers trying to outdo the other. The Madama Butterfly Love Duet scene is even better, as Lanza throws caution to the wind and shows Grayson the true meaning of PASSION. Were it not for Grayson, the movie would merit the highest evaluation. Despite this one casting flaw, Toast of New Orleans is an excellent vehicle for newcomers to opera. Like the man himself, Lanza's screen character's lusty ways and thorough lack of pretentiousness are a breath of fresh air, and he sings impressively throughout. Highlights include the Libiamo (much better than his commercial recording), a gorgeous Bayou Lullaby and the aforementioned Butterfly Love Duet.Following this movie, Lanza would go on to star in The Great Caruso, the pinnacle of his movie career and the film that has influenced more singers than any other in cinematic history.

willrams Mario Lanza's second film bursting with energy and musical talents with Kathryn Grayson in old New Orleans. Mario is discovered by David Niven and teamed up with Kathryn and they are the Toast of New Orleans. Mario is the scruffy seaman and his partner J. Carrol Nash, who provides the comedy. The music includes arias from Aida, Madame Butterfly, and La Boheme, etc. Mario does imitations of various people and this is a delight to all. The glorious voice of Lanza still lingers on!