The Cat and the Fiddle (1934) is an American MGM romantic musical film directed by William K. Howard based on the book by Otto A. Harbach about a romance between a struggling composer and an American singer. The film stars Ramon Novarro and Jeanette MacDonald in her MGM debut. The last reel was filmed in the then-newly-perfected three-strip Technicolor process.
At the insistence of Jeanette MacDonald, the once substantial supporting role of soprano Vivienne Segal was reduced until it was almost non-existent.
First use of 3-strip Technicolor in a live-action sequence.
The musical play opened in New York City, New York, USA, on 15 October 1931 and closed on 24 September 1932, after 395 performances. All songs in the musical were performed to some degree in the movie.
This movie was rejected for re-release certification because the leading characters were in an illicit sexual relationship without any compensating moral values.
Jeanette MacDonald's costume in the finale was used earlier by Joan Crawford in Dancing Lady (1933).
