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Logline

MGM stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are lovers on-screen in 8 blockbuster movies, but studio mogul Louis B. Mayer refuses to allow them to marry off-screen, with tragic results.

Synopsis

Sweethearts tells the true story of movie stars Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald and their tumultuous love affair. MGM’s studio mogul, Louis B. Mayer, was in love with Jeanette. She accepted his #MeToo demands to become the Queen of MGM, the most prestigious studio in Hollywood. Then she fell in love with her co-star Nelson Eddy and suddenly the career didn’t mean so much anymore. But jealous Mayer would not let her marry Nelson. She was pulled apart in a tug-of-war between the man she loved and the ruthless studio boss who threatened to destroy her career along with Nelson’s. They were forced to marry other people while singing in numerous classic movies about eternal love. Mayer was not only a star-maker, he was also a star-breaker. Those who played by the rules rose to fame and glory; those who disobeyed him were systematically destroyed. This is the story of two stars who stood up to him and the terrible price they paid.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Amanda Kiely — Producer
Amanda Kiely, PGA, started out in UK BBC’s film and TV department where she spent 5 years. She then came to LA to produce a new BBC show after which she stayed and worked independently in the film and commercial industry for the next 15 years. She has worked with top talents including Billy Zane, John Malkovich, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Neil Jordan, Geena Davies and Eugene Levy. She has produced commercials for Barbie, Hot Wheels, Disney, Pixar, BMW, Bratz Dolls, Little Tikes, Microsoft, Yamaha and RAM.

In 2016, Amanda created Tall Brit Productions, a film development and production company, where she has a number of projects in various stages of development. She produced Isthmus and Mags (2019); Produced Karen (2021), Executive Produced Call Jane with Elisabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver (2022), Werewolves with Frank Grillo (2022), County Rescue (2023), Watchful Eye (2024), and Produced Billy Knight with Al Pacino (2025), Executive Produced Sunny with Angelina Jolie (2026) and Co Produced Jacob Beats Up Nate with Justin Long (2026).

Niels Juul — Producer
Niels Juul, PGA, is the Executive Producer of recent award-winning Martin Scorsese movies including Silence (2016), starring Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield, The Irishman (2019), starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and John Lithgow. Niels also produced Michael Mann’s award-winning biopic Ferrari (2025), starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley. As CEO of his multi-functioning film company NO FAT EGO, he has several projects in various stages of development. Niels also currently serves as a Creative Consultant and Executive Producer to the Cecchi Gori Companies on its scripts and projects in active development.

Prior to the movie business, Niels was a Senior Executive in the fashion business, most notably as one of the founding partners of Von Dutch Originals, an LA based label that under his management in the early 2000’s went from 2 to 400 million USD in worldwide sales in 6 years.

Jason Connery — Director
Jason Connery is the son of Sean Connery. He began his career as an actor, most notably in the Doctor Who series and as the star of Robin of Sherwood, a TV show still with a popular following today. As a director, Jason is best known for Tommy’s Honour (2016), starring Jack Lowden. The movie won Best Feature Film at the Scottish BAFTA awards. Jason is also co-owner of First Stage studios in Edinburgh.

Michael Radford — Writer
Michael Radford is a BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter. Worldwide, he has won dozens of film awards, and is best known for Il Postino (The Postman, 1994), 1984 (1984) starring John Hurt, The Merchant of Venice (2004) starring Al Pacino, and White Mischief (1987) starring Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance.

Sharon Rich — Writer
Sharon Rich is a film historian and best-selling Sweethearts author. She was close friends with Jeanette MacDonald’s older sister, character actress Blossom Rock (“Grandmama” in the original TV series, The Addams Family), who helped with early work on the biography. Sharon interviewed hundreds of people and had access to private letters, both MacDonald’s and Eddy’s personal scrapbooks, photos, diaries, letters, memoirs and FBI files.

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Contact

For inquiries, please contact [email protected].