The Merry Widow (1934 film)

The Merry Widow is a 1934 film adaptation of the 1905 operetta of the same name by Franz Lehár. The film was directed and produced by Ernst Lubitsch and stars Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald. A French-language version was produced at the same time and released in France the same year as La veuve joyeuse. Lorenz Hart and Gus Kahn wrote new English lyrics for some of Lehar's songs under the musical direction of Herbert Stothart.

The Merry Widow
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ernst Lubitsch
Written by	Libretto: Victor Léon Leo Stein Screenplay: Ernest Vajda Samson Raphaelson Marcel Achard (French version)
Based on	The Merry Widow 1905 operetta by Franz Lehár Victor Léon (libretto) Leo Stein (libretto)
Produced by	Irving Thalberg Ernst Lubitsch
Starring	Maurice Chevalier Jeanette MacDonald
Cinematography	Oliver T. Marsh
Edited by	Frances Marsh (English) Adrienne Fazan (French)
Music by	Franz Lehár
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.
Release date	October 11, 1934 (1934-10-11)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	English French (separate versions)
Budget	$1,605,000[1]
Box office	$2.8 million (worldwide rentals)[1]

Plot

In 1885, in the kingdom of Marshovia, Count Danilo, the captain of the royal guard, spots the widowed Madame Sonia during a military parade. One night, Danilo hands Sonia a self-written letter expressing his romantic affection, but she declines. Per tradition with Marshovan customs, Sonia wears a face veil, and after a year, she decides to move to Paris. Alarmed by the news, King Achmed schemes to have a suitor return Sonia, as her wealth controls the kingdom's economy. Achmed proposes potential suitors to his wife, Queen Dolores, but she rejects them. When Achmed returns to Dolores's bedroom, he catches Danilo flirting with her. Having selected a suitor, Achmed orders Danilo to go to Paris and marry Sonia.

In Paris, Danilo arrives at a cabaret where he is greeted by the can-can dancers. There, Ambassador Popoff relays Danilo the top-secret plan to have Danilo arrive at the next day's embassy ball, where Sonia is also attending. Later that evening, Danilo meets Sonia, who now calls herself "Fifi", again and romances her, while shooing away competing suitors. He escorts Sonia to a private dining room where they have a brief romantic dalliance. Much to Sonia's annoyance, Danilo states his preference for can-can girls over elegant ladies, and she storms out.

Danilo fails to arrives at the embassy ball. Popoff questions his absence, to which Danilo's orderly Mischka finds him drunk at the cabaret. Danilo tells the dancers of his obligation and leaves for the ball. There, Danilo and Sonia reencounter each other and converse in the garden, where Danilo pleads his sincere love towards Sonia. Meanwhile, Popoff receives a letter from King Achmed, stating Marchovian newspapers will report their scheme and orders that Danilo marries Sonia tonight. Sonya overhears Popoff's announcement of her and Danilo's engagement, to which she deduces the scheme and leaves. For not fulfilling his oath, Danilo is arrested and charged with high treason while Sonia withdraws her money from Marshovia.

Sonia arrives at Danilo's trial where she accuses him of successfully deceiving her. With Achmed's permission, Danilo cross-examines Sonia and testifies in his own guilt. Sonia visits Danilo in his jail cell, but Achmed and Popoff lock the two of them alone. Inside the cell, Danilo and Sonia rekindle their romance. When they are presented with engagement rings, the two agree to be married and embrace each other.

Cast

English

• Maurice Chevalier as Captain Danilo
• Jeanette MacDonald as Madame Sonia / Fifi
• Edward Everett Horton as Ambassador Popoff
• Una Merkel as Queen Dolores
• George Barbier as King Achmed
• Minna Gombell as Marcelle
• Ruth Channing as Lulu
• Sterling Holloway as Mischka
• Donald Meek as Valet
• Herman Bing as Zizipoff
• Jason Robards Sr. as Arresting Officer (uncredited)
• Akim Tamiroff as Maxim's Manager (uncredited)

French

• Maurice Chevalier as Prince Danilo
• Jeanette MacDonald as Missia
• Marcel Vallée as L'ambassadeur
• Danièle Parola as La reine
• André Berley as Le roi
• Fifi D'Orsay as Marcelle
• Pauline Garon as Lola
• George Davis as L'ordonnance
• Jean Perry as Le valet
• Akim Tamiroff as Turk

Production

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Andre Sennwald wrote:

It is a good show in the excellent Lubitsch manner, heady as the foam on champagne, fragile as mist and as delicately gay as a good-natured censor will permit. ... Although some of the ensemble numbers, particularly the embassy ball, are breathtaking, Herr Lubitsch is not the man to crush you under a mountain of spectacle. His sense of humor is impeccable and his taste is faultless. So with his actors. There was an inconsiderate rumor not long ago that Mr. Chevalier was diminishing in luster. Let that be spiked at once. He has never been better in voice nor charm. Miss MacDonald is similarly fortunate in the twin possessions of a captivating personality and a lyric voice.^[2]

Reception

The film earned $861,000 in the U.S. and $1,747,000 overseas for a total rental of $2,608,000. It earned a further $151,000 on rerelease in 1949–1950 to almost recoup its budget.

Awards

Cedric Gibbons and Fredric Hope won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction.^[3]

A publicity still of Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier in The Merry Widow

The film was nominated for the American Film Institute's 2006 list AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals.^[4]