Cheap Merry Widow (Video) (Ernst Lubitsch) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Merry Widow

Chevalier vs. McDonald
If in the Lana Turner version many of Lehar's melodies are played by the orchestra (a la Josh Logan's FANNY) while Turner and Fernando Lamas exchange smoldering glances, Ernst Lubitsch similarly downplays the music in this--the classic version of the operetta. And he had two of the 20th century's greatest musical personalities to carry off those signature tunes. Here and there we get full-bore versions of "Vilia" and others, but anyone familiar with the stage score feels a biting disappointment at seeing the screen version at how little of the score remains on screen. Even the famous "Merry Widow Waltz" gets only a minute or two--whereas in any production on the stage worth its salt, you hear that tune about two hundred times, until you're in an altered state. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. Anyhow Chevalier and McDonald are both out of this world and totally attuned to Lubitsch's stylish, comic, "saucy" production, and it might be that he never again worked with two such professional technicians. There are some movie fans who are immune to the charm of MC and JMcD, and they are perhaps best taken in small doses, but after seeing their Danilo and Sonia, you might well forgive them for their sins of haming it up elsewhere, for they are so restrained here. Meanwhile that lush creamy music burns in your brain: <
> <
>Golden glowing lamps are throwing light above. <
>While the swaying tune is saying, "Love, Love, Love." <
>And the feet of dancers sounded as they go. <
>Don't you hear them say, my dear, <
>"I love you so?" <
>

---

Jeanette MacDonald in her greatest role
THE MERRY WIDOW is arguably Jeanette MacDonald's finest film, and is still regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever made by MGM.

The story concerns one widow, Sonia (Jeanette MacDonald), a beautiful young woman who owns 52% of the small kingdom of Marshovia. Sonia lives a life consisting of black dresses, black shoes, black corsets and black veils...even a black dog. Sonia decides to flee to the gay city of Paris, and swaps her dull attire for a new wardrobe, and a new outlook.

The King of Marshovia (Edward Everett Horton) and his flirtatious Queen (Una Merkel) decide to dispatch the handsome Count Danilo (Maurice Chevalier) to Paris in order to woo Sonia and her millions back into Marshovia...but Sonia has a few tricks up her own sleeves!

Filled with the timeless music of Franz Lehar's score, THE MERRY WIDOW is joyously directed by legendary Ernst Lubitsch, and Jeanette MacDonald literally sparkles in designer Adrian's lavish costumes.

Later re-made starring Lana Turner, Fernando Lamas and Una Merkel (refer to my review for this).

---

VILIA AND OTHER DELIGHTS.
A bankrupt king orders a nobleman to court a wealthy American widow. For lovers of vintage operettas, this 1934 film is one to cherish. The Franz Lehar masterpiece began life in Vienna in 1905 and it was an instant smash hit. It was first brought to the American stage in 1907, made into a lost silent with Alma Reubens and Wallace Reid in 1912, and brought true stardom to the eccentric Mae Murray in Erich Von Stoheim's 1925 version which co-starred John Gilbert. Grace Moore was originally to play Sonia, but she wouldn't accept second billing to Maurice Chevalier. This sparkling, frothy, funny and tuneful movie is a delight, and MacDonald shows a fine flair for comedy: she snaps off her lines with Lombard-like aplomb and expertise. Chevalier was a huge star at the time, and although he was never too crazy about Jeanette, their pairing here is near perfection.