THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER MOVIE CAST - INSCRIBED PRINTED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED IN INK CO-SIGNED BY: NIGEL BRUCE, NELSON EDDY, RISE STEVENS - HFSID 287818

THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER MOVIE CAST: NIGEL BRUCE, NELSON EDDY and RISË STEVENS
Vintage still from the MGM movie, inscribed and signed by all three
Inscribed Printed Photograph Signed in Ink: "To Harold/Best/wishes/Nigel Bruce", "To Harold/Rise Stevens/Best wishes", "To Harold/Nelson Eddy". B/w, 10x8. Captioned still from the film The Chocolate Soldier (1941). British actor NIGEL BRUCE (1895-1953) portrayed the famous crime-solving pair of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in 14 films, beginning with The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1939. For the next six years, their legendary performances in Sherlock Holmes mysteries caused them to be symbolically linked with the detective duo created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). After serving in World War I, Bruce began his acting career performing both in London and on Broadway; he made his first British film in 1931 and in 1934 began work in Hollywood. His movie credits include Treasure Island(1934), Rebecca(1940) and , in Hong Kong(1951). NELSON EDDY (1901-1967) performed with the Metropolitan Opera (1924) and was heard in concert and on radio in the early 1930s. Beginning in 1935, he joined Jeanette MacDonald in a singing duo, commonly called "the Singing Sweethearts", which scored one smash hit film musical after another through 1942, including Naughty Marietta, Rose Marie and Let Freedom Ring. In the year he signed this card, Eddy appeared with MacDonald in Sweethearts and The Girl of the Golden West and co-starred with Eleanor Powell in Rosalie. Mezzo-soprano RISË STEVENS (b. 1913) sang with the Metropolitan Opera (1944-1961), performing the part of Carmen 75 times, and appeared on many other world opera stages. She appeared in films, including The Chocolate Soldier (1941) with Nelson Eddy and Going My Way (1944) with Bing Crosby. Shortly after retiring from the Met, she sent a telegram to President Kennedy urging his intervention in a strike there. He responded, and the resulting arbitration saved the opera's 1961-1962 season. Her later responsibilities included that of first Director of the touring Metropolitan Opera National Company. Heavily creased. Lightly worn. ¼ inch piece missing from top right. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.