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It premiered in 1908 in Vienna with a German libretto, and titled Der tapfere Soldat, but had only moderate popularity.
The first English-language version premiered in New York, translated by Stanislaus Stange, on 13 September 1909, where it was the hit of the Broadway season. It was revived in 1910, 1921, 1930, 1931, 1934, and 1947. Its London premiere in 1910 was also considered a phenomenal success.
The operetta was filmed (as a silent movie) in 1915.
When Shaw had given Leopold Jacobson the rights to adapt the play, he had given three conditions: none of Shaw's dialogue, nor any of the character's names could be used; the libretto must be advertised as a parody, and Shaw would accept no monetary compensation. Shaw despised the result, calling it "a putrid opera bouffe in the worst taste of 1860," and grew to regret not accepting payment when, despite his opinion of the work, it became an international success.
When Shaw heard, in 1921, that Franz Lehár wanted to set his play Pygmalion to music, he sent word to Vienna that Lehár be instructed that he could not touch Pygmalion without infringing Shaw's copyright and that Shaw had "no intention of allowing the history of The Chocolate Soldier to be repeated" (Pygmalion was eventually adapted by Lerner and LoeweLerner and Loewe is a designation for the musical comedy writing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. Their best known productions were: My Fair Lady Camelot Brigadoon Gigi Paint Your Wagon''. as My Fair LadyMy Fair Lady is a musical theater production with lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederic Loewe, adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion''. The musical opened on March 15, 1956 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. It ran f, but this was possible only because they were, at least in theory, adapting a screenplay co-authored by Shaw, with rights controlled by the film company.)
Metro Goldwin Mayer tried to make a filmed version of The Chocolate Soldier in 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F, but were refused permission (or at least permission at a reasonable price) by Shaw. Instead, Louis B. MayerMayer ( July 4, 1885 October 29, 1957) was a Jewish American film producer. Born Eliezer Meir in Minsk, Russia, (now Belarus), his family immigrated to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada when he was still very young and Mayer attended school there. On Nove bought the rights to Straus's music, and used the plot from Ferenc Molnar 's play Testör (also known as Playing With Fire and Where Ignorance is Bliss, and ultimately adapted by Philip Moeller as The GuardsmanThe Guardsman is a 1931 movie based on the play Testor by Ferenc Molnar and the play Elizabeth the Queen by Maxwell Anderson. It stars Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Roland Young and Zazu Pitts. The movie was adapted by Ernest Vajda (screenplay) and Claudine with Alfred LuntAlfred Lunt ( August 12, 1892 August 3, 1977) was an American actor. Along with his wife Lynn Fontanne, he was half of the pre-eminent Broadway acting couple in American history. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he received two Tony Awards, an Academy Award and Lynn FontanneLynn Fontanne ( December 6, 1887 July 30, 1983) was a famous stage and film star. Born Lillie Louise Fontanne in Woodford, Essex, England, she became famous as an acting pair with her husband, Alfred Lunt. The two were more famous for their stage performa) as the plot of The Chocolate Soldier starring Nelson EddyNelson Ackerman Eddy ( June 29, 1901 March 6, 1967) was an American singer and film actor. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Eddy's parents were both singers, and he would later say that singing was the only career he ever contemplated. He studied in Dres and Risë Stevens , incorporating music from other works as well.