Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy.Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy.Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 2 nominations total
Sujata Rubener
- Gypsy Girl
- (as Sujata)
Ludwig Stössel
- Major Domo
- (as Ludwig Stossel)
John Alban
- Club Patron
- (uncredited)
Erville Alderson
- Cart Driver
- (uncredited)
Bette Arlen
- Girl at Maxim's
- (uncredited)
Frank Arnold
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor
- Reception Guest
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter Lana Turner's millionaire husband Bob Topping left her in 1951, she slashed her wrist and had to wear a bracelet during this shoot to cover the scar.
- GoofsThe statement about beginnings of decades and centuries, is absolutely not correct. :-)
- Quotes
King of Marshovia: I'm not asking you to fall in love with the woman. Marriage is quite enough.
- ConnectionsFeatured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)
- SoundtracksGirls, Girls, Girls
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Lehár
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Sung by Fernando Lamas
Featured review
MGM churns out a lackluster Technicolor musical featuring the beautiful Lana Turner
The lovely Lana Turner stars in this rather lackluster Technicolor musical. In my opinion it is far inferior to the charming and hilarious 1934 Ernst Lubitsch version. (Both films are adaptations of an operetta, so the 1934 one isn't exactly the "original".)
To this film's credit, it's rather different from Lubitsch's version. It doesn't try to be an exact copy and can therefore be judged on its own merits. (I can't say which version of the story is most true to the original play.) This 1952 version is, for one thing, in color and features some new ballads to go with a couple familiar tunes from the earlier film. The songs, however, are largely forgettable. The storyline, about a small European kingdom sending a man to woo a wealthy widow, is a little different in this version, although the general arc is similar. (Viewers familiar with the 1934 version will notice the differences; I won't mention them here.)
This film overall did not impress me, partly because I'd been previously spoiled with the Lubitsch version, which is simultaneously a fairy tale romance and a hilarious comedy (with music, too!). This 1952 version is more of a second-tier MGM romance musical. It's really not a legitimate comedy, although it does try to be funny. But Lana Turner looks great in this good girl role (she'd played many a femme fatale) and the cast isn't bad. I can't fault the movie for trying, but it just falls a little flat for me.
THE MERRY WIDOW (1952) may be fun for musical junkies or viewers who don't know what they're missing, but I'd recommend the comedy of the 1934 version of the same story.
5.5/10
To this film's credit, it's rather different from Lubitsch's version. It doesn't try to be an exact copy and can therefore be judged on its own merits. (I can't say which version of the story is most true to the original play.) This 1952 version is, for one thing, in color and features some new ballads to go with a couple familiar tunes from the earlier film. The songs, however, are largely forgettable. The storyline, about a small European kingdom sending a man to woo a wealthy widow, is a little different in this version, although the general arc is similar. (Viewers familiar with the 1934 version will notice the differences; I won't mention them here.)
This film overall did not impress me, partly because I'd been previously spoiled with the Lubitsch version, which is simultaneously a fairy tale romance and a hilarious comedy (with music, too!). This 1952 version is more of a second-tier MGM romance musical. It's really not a legitimate comedy, although it does try to be funny. But Lana Turner looks great in this good girl role (she'd played many a femme fatale) and the cast isn't bad. I can't fault the movie for trying, but it just falls a little flat for me.
THE MERRY WIDOW (1952) may be fun for musical junkies or viewers who don't know what they're missing, but I'd recommend the comedy of the 1934 version of the same story.
5.5/10
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Die lustige Witwe
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,865,760
- Gross worldwide
- $9,810,000
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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