The Merry Widow
Directed byErich von Stroheim
Written byErich von Stroheim
Benjamin Glazer
Based onThe Merry Widow
1905 operetta
by Franz Lehár
Victor Léon (libretto)
Leo Stein (libretto)
Produced byErich von Stroheim
Irving Thalberg (uncredited)
StarringMae Murray
John Gilbert
Roy D'Arcy
Tully Marshall
CinematographyOliver T. Marsh
William H. Daniels
Edited byFrank E. Hull
Margaret Booth (uncredited)
Music byWilliam Axt (uncredited)
David Mendoza (uncredited)
Franz Lehár (non-original music)
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
August 26, 1925 (1925-08-26)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$592,000[1][2]
Box office$1.933 million (worldwide rentals)[1][2]

The Merry Widow is a 1925 American silent romantic drama/black comedy film directed and written by Erich von Stroheim. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film stars Mae Murray, John Gilbert, Roy D'Arcy, and Tully Marshall,[3][4] with pre-fame uncredited appearances by Joan Crawford and Clark Gable.

The film is based on the Franz Lehár's 1905 operetta of the same name, and was its second film adaptation, the first being a 1918 Hungarian film directed by Michael Curtiz.

While a print of the film still survives, the end sequence shot in two-tone Technicolor is now lost.

Plot

As described in a film magazine reviews,[5] Prince Danilo meets Sally the dancer and, when he proposes marriage, his uncle, King Nikita I of Monteblanco and Queen Milena object because she is a commoner. Sally marries Baron Sadoja, an old wealthy roue who later dies from a stroke. Prince Danilo’s parents now encourage the marriage. A slurring remark is the cause of a duel between the cousins and Danilo is wounded, sacrificing his cousin whom he believes Sally loves. Crown Prince Mirko is assassinated and Danilo becomes heir to the throne. Sally visits Danilo at the hospital and asks him to marry her.

Cast

Uncredited

Selected cast that were uncredited:

Production

Alternate poster.

The film was shot over twelve weeks with a budget of $592,000. Filming was tense as Mae Murray and the film's director, Erich von Stroheim, did not get on well. After production, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer decided it could no longer work with the director after he added sexually explicit scenes and changed the operetta's libretto.[6]

Reception

Upon its release, the film was both a critical and box office success. Critics praised Murray's dramatic skills while also noting that von Stroheim had "made an actress out of Miss Murray".[7] According to MGM records The Merry Widow took in approximately $1.081 million in theater rentals from the United States and Canada, an additional $852,000 from foreign rentals, and earned a profit of $758,000.[1][2][8]

Other adaptations

The Merry Widow was adapted for the screen in 1934, 1952, 1962, and 1994.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM film grosses, 1924-1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (2): 127–144. doi:10.1080/01439689200260081.
  2. 1 2 3 Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "Appendix". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (S2): 1–20. doi:10.1080/01439689208604539.
  3. ↑ Variety film review; September 2, 1925, p. 36.
  4. ↑ Harrison's Reports film review; September 12, 1925, p. 147.
  5. ↑ "New Pictures: The Merry Widow", Exhibitors Herald, Chicago, Illinois: Exhibitors Herald Company, 22 (8): 51, August 16, 1925, retrieved July 21, 2022 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ Sullivan, Chris (February 2019). "Erich Von Stroheim". Chap. Spring 2019: 23–27.
  7. ↑ Ankerich, Michael G. (2012). Mae Murray: The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 166–168. ISBN 978-0-813-14038-4.
  8. ↑ Scott Eyman, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer, Robson, 2005 p. 99 ISBN 0-7432-0481-6
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