The Merry Widow (1925 film)
| The Merry Widow | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Erich von Stroheim |
| Produced by | Erich von Stroheim Irving Thalberg (uncredited) |
| Written by | Erich von Stroheim Benjamin Glazer |
| Based on |
The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár Victor Léon (libretto) Leo Stein (libretto) |
| Starring |
Mae Murray John Gilbert Roy D'Arcy |
| Music by |
William Axt (uncredited) David Mendoza (uncredited) Franz Lehár (non-original music) |
| Cinematography |
Oliver T. Marsh William H. Daniels |
| Edited by |
Frank E. Hull Margaret Booth (uncredited) |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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August 26, 1925 |
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Running time
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137 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $592,000 |
| Box office | $1.5 million |
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 and Roy D'Arcy. The film is based on the Franz Lehár's opera of the same name and was the second adaptation of the opera, the first being released in Hungary in 1918. Joan Crawford and Clark Gable also had uncredited roles in the film.
While a print of the film still survives, the end sequence shot in two-tone Technicolor is now lost.
Prince Danilo falls in love with dancer Sally O'Hara. His uncle, King Nikita I of Monteblanco forbids the marriage because she is a commoner. Thinking she has been jilted by her prince, Sally marries old, lecherous Baron Sadoja, whose wealth has kept the kingdom afloat. When he dies suddenly, Sally must be wooed all over again by Danilo.
Selected cast that were uncredited:
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 along.
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". The film made a profit of $758,000.
The Merry Widow was adapted for the screen in 1934, 1952, 1962 and 1994.
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