A frothy, highspirited gem based on franz lehars operetta, the merry widow set the standard for musicals to come. The merry widow 1934 brought chevalier and macdonald together again under the auspices of producer irving thalberg and metrogoldwynmayer mgm in a sparkling version of the franz lehar operetta, with new lyrics by richard rodgers and lorenz hart, among others. It starred lana turner singing voice was dubbed by trudy erwin and fernando lamas the film received two oscar nominations. A prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in the country. Cedric gibbons and fredric hope won the film s only oscar for their sumptuous set design. Read the full synopsis of the merry widow, 1934, directed by ernst lubitsch, with maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, at turner classic movies. Overview of the merry widow, 1934, directed by ernst lubitsch, with maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, at turner classic movies. Step into the ballrooms of paris and join us for our production of the merry widow a lighthearted production filled with tangled affairs, narrow misses and jealous lovers the tiny nation of pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the dashing count danilo must rescue his country by marrying the newly widowed and fabulously wealthy hanna glawari.
The merry widow is a 1934 musical comedy film directed by ernst lubitsch, starring maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald. Cedric gibbons and fredric hope won the films only oscar for their sumptuous set design. The librettists, viktor leon and leo stein, based the story concerning a rich widow, and her countrymens attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband on an 1861 comedy play, lattache dambassade the embassy attache by henri meilhac. The merry widow 1934 the kingdom of marshovia is so small that one of its richest citizens, madame sonia jeanette macdonald, is responsible for paying more than half of its taxes. Una merkel is on hand again, annd inexplicably wasted as the widow s bland companion. The merry widow directed by ernst lubitsch, starring maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald. Ernst lubitsch directs the 1934 musical comedy the merry widow, based on the 1905 operetta by franz lehar. With lana turner, fernando lamas, una merkel, richard haydn. Maurice chevalier as danilo with the opening number by franz lehar and lorenz hart, jeanette macdonald slipping in as the mysterious widow, from ernst lubitschs celebrated 1934 version of the merry widow.
It exists in different forms, but the heart of the waltz is a primary melody that rocks. The merry widow 1934 11021934 us comedy, music, romance 1h 39m user score. Released in october 1934, the merry widow brought to an end the spirited series of musicals operettas, really that ernst lubitsch had begun with his first sound film, the love. The film was so successful that it was remade in 1934 by ernst lubitsch as a musical, replete with the lubitsch touch, starring maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald and in a. When the kingdoms wealthiest widow, sonia jeanette macdonald, goes off to paris, the king sends the villages greatest lover, prince danilo maurice. The merry widow 1934 cast and crew the kingdom of marshovia is so small that one of its richest citizens, madame sonia jeanette macdonald, is responsible for paying more than half of its taxes.
Mgm released this film in 1952, i had just turned, and saw it in the theater, other than the merry widow waltz, i had no knowledge of the operetta, but found out a little later, the film closely follows the main plot of the operetta, but completely ignores the side plots, and therefore some of the music, so if you dont care for adaptations, you may not care for this film, viewed on its. The merry widow 1934 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Released by metrogoldwynmayer, the film stars mae murray, john gilbert, roy darcy, and tully marshall, with prefame uncredited appearances by joan crawford and clark gable. It is easy to see why this merry widow did poorly at the box office. Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy. May 28, 20 a frothy, highspirited gem based on franz lehars operetta, the merry widow set the standard for musicals to come.
Marking the fourth and final screen collaboration of maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald, and their only one together for mgm, many rate this. May 07, 2014 mae murray and john gilbert the merry widow 1925 his dinner guest duration. Dan glade enke trondhjem nonb digifoto 20150519 00064 blds 07053. Jun 18, 2011 trailer to metrogoldwynmayers 1934 version of the musical the merry widow. The merry widow 1934 1102 1934 us comedy, music, romance 1h 39m user score. Music played by mantovani and his orchestra with images from the 1934 movie starring jeanette macdonald and maurice chevalier. The merry widow is a 1952 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by franz lehar.
In the plot, jeanette macdonald is the superwealthy young widow who possesses the principal funds in the. The merry widow is a 1934 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by franz lehar. The merry widow 1934 original theatrical print recreation by metrogoldwynmayer. Macdonald is sonia, the eponymous widow, who inherited her husbands vast fortune. The merry widow won the academy award for best art directionset decoration. The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that amc sent you when you purchased your ticket. The merry widow 1934 flickers in timeflickers in time. Jan 07, 2011 music played by mantovani and his orchestra with images from the 1934 movie starring jeanette macdonald and maurice chevalier. Stream free the merry widow full movie online on marvel biggest. The merry widow 1934 full movie 123movies free watch online with english subtitles. The merry widow metrogoldwynmayer, 1934, produced and directed by ernst lubitsch, is a musicalcomedy based on the 1905 operetta by franz lehar, though the movie is more lubitsch than lehar. A prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in. At the time this movie was filmed 1934, it was done so in english and in french. Warner archive restores the merry widow the new york times.
Her husband was by far the richest man in the tiny principality of marshovia, and sonia now pays 52% of the countrys taxes. With maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, marcel vallee. It was directed and produced by ernst lubitsch and starred maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald. Susan graham, her voice mellow and intimate, plays the title role in the merry widow at the metropolitan opera. The merry widow, a hungarian silent film directed by michael curtiz. The merry widow manufactured on demand, full frame, ntsc. Mae murray and john gilbert the merry widow 1925 his dinner guest duration. In 1885, king achmed george barbier strives to protect the financial interests of his small, poor kingdom of marshovia in central europe. Jun 25, 2018 the merry widow won the academy award for best art directionset decoration. Up next ernst lubitsch scene from the merry widow 1934 duration.
In 1925 john gilbert would have been a shoe in for a best actor oscar between his performances in the merry widow and the big parade. Murray would likely have been a best actress contender. Trailer to metrogoldwynmayers 1934 version of the musical the merry widow. A frenchlanguage version was produced at the same time. Jun 23, 20 released in october 1934, the merry widow brought to an end the spirited series of musicals operettas, really that ernst lubitsch had begun with his first sound film, the love. When a small kingdoms main tax payer leaves for paris, its king dispatches a dashing count to win back her allegiance. Maurice chevalier as danilo with the opening number by franz lehar and lorenz hart, jeanette macdonald slipping in as the mysterious widow, from ernst lubitschs celebrated 1934 version of the merry widow view the tcmdb entry for the merry widow 1934. The third film version of franz lehars 1907 operetta, the merry widow 1934 was the first talking version, and thus the first to take full advantage of lehars glorious music. The film was so successful that it was remade in 1934 by ernst lubitsch as a musical, replete with the lubitsch touch, starring maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald and in a bestforgotten 1952 version starring lana turner. The merry widow waltz 1934 jeanette macdonald victor 24729 download 7. Willis, arthur krams and best costume design, color. It starred lana turner singing voice was dubbed by trudy erwin and fernando lamas. In the plot, jeanette macdonald is the superwealthy young widow who possesses the principal funds in the fictitious tiny country of the tiny kingdom of marshovia. The film is highly dramatic, romantic, and sensual but manages touches of humor.