"Ma Belle Marguerite" is a song with music by Vivian Ellis and lyric by AP Herbert, which was a great success in the musical Bless the Bride, being sung by Georges Guétary, playing the part of French actor Pierre Fontaine. [1]
Vivian John Herman Ellis, CBE was an English musical comedy composer best known for the song "Spread a Little Happiness" and the theme "Coronation Scot".
Bless the Bride is a musical with music by Vivian Ellis and a book and lyrics by A. P. Herbert, the third of five musicals they wrote together. The story is about an English girl who elopes with a debonair French actor; he goes off to serve in the Franco-Prussian War, and his friend, who bears a grudge against the English, tells his bride that he has been killed in action. The musical is remembered as Ellis's best work and for the recordings of "This is my lovely day" and "I was never kissed before", with Lizbeth Webb and Georges Guétary. The musical was Charles B. Cochran's 125th production. Cochran had signed 19-year-old Adele Leigh as the lead, but the next day the new Royal Opera offered her principal roles. After much negotiation, Cochran released her from the contract.
Georges Guétary, born Lambros Vorloou was a French singer, dancer, cabaret performer and film actor, best known for his role in the 1951 musical An American in Paris.
