Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm. But, when mgm wanted to remake the film in 1952, it lacked this. 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. E nglish national operas new production of the merry widow marks the return, after an overlong absence, of director john copley. The film featured three toptier talents who were washed up as power players within a decade, done in by changing tastes, studio politics or hubris. Help our ai algorithm improve video recommendations for you. If you look carefully, you can spot clark gable and. Stroheim clashed with mgm, which actually went so far as to offer him a cash bonus to finish the film on time, only for stroheim to ignore the studio and go over budget as usual.
The 1934 version of the merry widow was a marvelous old film for several important reasons. It starred lana turner singing voice was dubbed by trudy erwin and fernando lamas the film received two oscar nominations. Susan graham, her voice mellow and intimate, plays the title role in the merry widow at the metropolitan opera. With lana turner, fernando lamas, una merkel, richard haydn. Murrays screen persona alternated between virgin and vamp. An embassy plot to marry her off to the debonair count danilo danilovitch is complicated by the secret affair which has developed between. A very different kind of merry widow, a new story but the same familiar hauntingly beautiful, lehar music a nice change to the sameoldsameold merry widow, a great addition to my collection. 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. Based on franz lehars operetta, the merry widown is an amusing and intelligent film. Franz lehars sparkling whirlwind of comedy and romance. With maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, marcel vallee. Murray would likely have been a best actress contender. Fernando lamas is perfect as danilo, lana turner could be a little more believable as crystal radek.
Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. The merry widow by otto ackermann from amazons classical music store. Pontevedro, her native country, will be left bankrupt if she weds a foreigner. 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. Graham, right, in a more elegant moment, in the title role of the merry widow at the met in 2015. Franz lehars music is indeed glorious, but some of the acting isnt so good. The merry widow was a blockbuster but what went on behind the scenes is just as interesting as what ended up on the screen.
The merry widow maurice chevalier jeanette macdonald edward everett horton 1934 a playboy prince maurice chevalier from a tiny kingdom is sent to woo a rich widow jeanette macdonald in paris. Franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new. It starred lana turner singing voice was dubbed by trudy erwin and fernando lamas. The box office will be closed monday, may 25 for memorial day. Trailer to metrogoldwynmayers 1934 version of the musical the merry widow.
Overview of the merry widow, 1952, directed by curtis bernhardt, with lana turner, fernando lamas, una merkel, at turner classic movies. The franz lehar operetta based on henri meilhacs play was given the special ernst lubitsch touch and it happened to star one of the most charming actors of its day, maurice chevalier. Curtis bernhardt, lana turner, fernando lamas, una merkel, richard haydn, thomas gomez, robert coote. Jan 07, 2011 music played by mantovani and his orchestra with images from the 1934 movie starring jeanette macdonald and maurice chevalier. Music played by mantovani and his orchestra with images from the 1934 movie starring jeanette macdonald and maurice chevalier. Susan graham returns to the title role in susan stromans exhilarating production of lehars operetta, on stage through january 11. Merry widow, the 1925 movie clip manhattan follies. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost.
It was directed and produced by ernst lubitsch and starred maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald. 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. Mar 23, 2014 the merry widow was a blockbuster but what went on behind the scenes is just as interesting as what ended up on the screen. Cedric gibbons and fredric hope won the films only oscar for their sumptuous set design. Experience the ninth season of the metropolitan operas peabody and emmy awardwinning series the met. 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 merry widow is one of the most glorious of all the operettas of the early 20th century.
Maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald, edward everett horton, una merkel, george barbier, minna gombell. 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. With michele laroque, jacques gamblin, wladimir yordanoff, tom morton. 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 merry widow music theater of lincoln center cast recording 1964 album only sold by. Apr 27, 2008 e nglish national operas new production of the merry widow marks the return, after an overlong absence, of director john copley. Willis, arthur krams and best costume design, color. 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. Jeanette macdonald is sonia, a bubbly widow who owns 52% of every cow and cowtown in the tiny european country of marshovia. Director giles havergals stylish production for opera north is complemented by opulent period. A frenchlanguage version was produced at the same time. If you want a superior version of the merry widow, check out the san francisco operas version from 2001.
Lana turner is the widow of the man who was the richest person in the small kingdom of mariskova. The film is highly dramatic, romantic, and sensual but manages touches of humor. Annemarie lives an easy life with gilbert, a rich plastic surgeon. The merry widow was a lavishlystaged production shot on a long schedule 19 weeks, very unusual for the time with a large cast of extras. Franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new york. Here, she is the virgin who becomes the much sought after prize. She gets on his nerves and he does not attract her. It is based on the operetta the merry widow by franz lehar.
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. Aug 19, 20 franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new york city opera. The merry widow is a 1952 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by franz lehar. If you want a superior version of the merry widow, check. Other than identifying the title character as an american now, the merry widow pretty much retains the same plot, even some of the same lines from the 1934 jeanette macdonaldmaurice chevalier film. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. Jun 18, 2011 trailer to metrogoldwynmayers 1934 version of the musical the merry widow. Jan 17, 2015 the met operas broadcast of lehars the merry widow will be presented live in select cinemas nationwide on saturday, january 17 at 12. Renee fleming lights up the met stage as hanna glawari, the fabulously wealthy widow of the title in lehars beloved operetta, set in paris and seen in a.
The merry widow is a 1934 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by franz lehar. The merry widow lana turner fernando lamas una merkel 1952 the king of bankrupt marshovia orders a playboy count fernando lamas to woo a rich widow lana turner in paris. Read the the merry widow movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. Franz lehar, the merry widow in english 27 03 1996 new york city opera. A key figure in the companys history, copley is primarily. Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy. When a small kingdoms main tax payer leaves for paris, its king dispatches a dashing count to win back her allegiance. With richard bonynge, elizabethan philharmonic, the australian opera chorus, australian opera ballet. Oscarnominated lavish and glamorous production by mgm. It was directed and produced by ernst lubitsch and starred maurice.