The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow
MGM, 1952, Color, 105 minutes
Released September, 1952

Sumptuous treatment of Franz Lehar's opera, starring Lana Turner as a wealthy widow who is wooed by dashing Fernando Lamas in order to get her fortune and save his country. When Lamas really falls in love with her, he risks being court-martialed. Una Merkel also stars; songs include "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Maxim's" and "The Merry Widow Waltz."

Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Directed by: Curtis Bernhardt
Screen Play by: Sonya Levien and William Ludwig
Based on the Operetta Written by Composer Franz Lehar and Authors Victor Leon and Leo Stein
Music by: Franz Lehar
Lyrics by: Paul Francis Webster
Musical Direction: Jay Blackton
Musical Numbers Created and Staged by: Jack Cole
Orchestrations by: Maurice DePackh
Musical Advisor: Irving Aaronson
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Arthur Krams
Women's Costumes by: Helen Rose
Men's Costumes by: Gile Steele
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Robert Surtees
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe
Montage Sequences by: Peter Ballbusch
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultant: Henri Jafffa
Color Consultant: Alvord Eiseman
Film Editor: Conrad A. Nervig

Awards: Academy Award Nominations for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color) - Cedric Gibbons, Paul Groesse, Edwin B. Willis and Arthur Krams; Best Costume Design (Color) - Helen Rose and Gile Steele

Cast: Lana Turner [Crystal Radek], Fernando Lamas [Count Danilo], Una Merkel [Kitty Riley], Richard Haydn [Baron Popoff], Thomas Gomez [King of Marshovia], John Abbott [Marshovian Ambassador], Marcel Dalio [Police Sergeant], King Donovan [Nitki], Robert Coote [Marquis De Crillon], Sujata [Gypsy Girl], Lisa Ferraday [Marcella], Shepard Menken [Kunjany], Ludwig Stossel [Major Domo], Additional Cast: Dave Willock [Attache], Wanda McKay [1st Girl], Anne Kimbell [2nd Girl], Edward Earle [Chestnut Vendor], Gwen Verdon [Specialty Dancer], Gregg Sherwood, Joi Lansing [Maxim's Girls], Trudy Erwin [singing voice for Lana Turner]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: The Merry Widow Waltz (played by Orchestra and sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:10] Girls, Girls, Girls (sung by Fernando Lamas and Chorus); [0:16] Vilia (sung and danced by Ensemble, sung by Fernando Lamas); [0:26] Night (sung by Fernando Lamas); [0:47] Maxim's (intro spoken in verse by Richard Haydn and Fernando Lamas, then sung by Fernando Lamas); [0:51] Gypsy / Can Can (played by Orchestra, danced by Gwen Verdon and Chorus Girls); [0:53] Maxim's (sung by Fernando Lamas and Chorus Girls); [1:02] The Merry Widow Waltz (sung and danced by Fernando Lamas and Lana Turner, Trudy Erwin dubbing for Lana Turner); [1:27] The Merry Widow Waltz (played by Orchestra, danced by Fernando Lamas and Lana Turner and Chorus, short vocal segment by Trudy Erwin and Fernando Lamas, ending sung by Chorus); [1:43] The Merry Widow Waltz (sung by Chorus, danced by Fernando Lamas and Lana Turner)