Nelson Eddy without Jeanette MacDonald can be an "iffy" proposition (as can Eddy with MacDonald sometimes), but Let Freedom Ring is one of the sturdy baritone's finer efforts. Modern audience will undoubtedly find the story to be a bit too naïve and brainlessly patriotic, with a belief in the innate goodness and morality of the masses that is perhaps a trifle too optimistic. Yet even as Freedom pounds home its messages, Ben Hecht manages to craft a number of speeches that are genuinely stirring and quite effective, even to jaded viewers. As for Eddy, he's much better than might be expected. Vocally, of course, he's excellent, in beautiful voice and using that beautiful instrument in song after song to very good effect. His dramatic performance is not as expert as one might wish, but it's also better than one might hope, and his big fight scene with Victor McLaglen proves he could be as genuinely "manly" (as opposed to woodenly manly) as one might wish. His appointed paramour, Virginia Bruce, is lovely to look at, if rather lifeless, but her lack of presence is more than made up for by the contributions of a solid supporting cast that includes the aforementioned McLaglen, as well as Edward Arnold (reliably villainous), Lionel Barrymore and Charles Butterworth.