Sweethearts

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.

Project type: Fiction Feature
Project status: Development
Writer: Michael Radford
Producer: Amanda Kiely
Producer: Sevier Crespo
Executive Producer: Niels Juul

Website: sweetheartsbook.com
 
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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 this tyrant and the terrible price they paid.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Amanda Kiely — Producer
p.g.a. Amanda 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 in 2019; Produced Karen in 2021, Executive Produced Call Jane, Produced Billy Knight with Al Pacino, Werewolves with Frank Grillo in 2022, County Rescue in 2023, Watchful Eye in 2024. She is currently producing Princess with Niels Juul.

Sevier Crespo — Producer
Sevier Crespo, p.g.a., is an award-winning film, television and commercial producer who learned the ropes from heavyweights Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Mann and Ridley Scott. Crespo studied production at UCLA and worked under the tutelage of Robert Townsend and director Sam Bayer at Ridley Scott’s RSA USA, Inc. Sevier’s film credits include the comedy feature Pendejo, starring Danny Trejo, the film Deceived shot in Puerto Rico, The Culling starring Johnathan Schaech and El Guardia that premiered at Cannes 2019. Sevier’s TV credits include a pilot for NBC with Mandy Moore, James Roday and Dulé Hill as well as Mack & Moxy for Netflix, which won 2 awards for kids programing.

Niels Juul — Executive Producer
Niels Juul was most recenly the Executive Producer of Martin Scorsese’s movie Silence, starring Liam Neeson and Andrew Garfield, as well as The Irishman, starring Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Juul is a Producer on Michael Mann’s upcoming biopic Enzo Ferrari, starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley, as well as an upcoming feature by Brad Anderson (The Machinist, The Call, Fractured). Through his production company NO FAT EGO, Juul is developing the documentary series Selfie Sapiens and was previously as CEO, successful in turning around Cecchi Gori Pictures, the multi-Oscar winning Italian-American film company, bringing it back to profitability and active film production after a decade in the red. Juul 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, Juul 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.

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Contact

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