The Merry Widow (1934)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The Merry Widow |
| Original title | The Merry Widow |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1934 |
| length | 99 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ernst Lubitsch |
| script |
Ernest Vajda , Samson Raphaelson |
| production | MGM |
| music |
Franz Lehár (original), Herbert Stothart (adaptation), Richard Rodgers (lyrics), Lorenz Hart (lyrics), Gus Kahn (lyrics) |
| camera | Oliver T. Marsh |
| cut | Frances Marsh |
| occupation | |
| |
The Merry Widow is an American music film by Ernst Lubitsch from 1934. It is based on the operetta of the same name by Franz Lehár .
content
The Kingdom of Marshovia, a small state between Austria-Hungary and Romania , in 1885: Sonia, Marshovia's richest widow, has just returned home. Since July 1884 she has mourned her husband, dresses in black and is melancholy. Only when she meets the cheeky Count and Captain of the Guard Danilo, whom she only confronts in a veil, does she tear her out of her lethargy. She is outraged at how openly the womanizer Danilo declares his love for her, but now she travels to Paris without her widow's clothes to have fun.
In Marshovia, after Sonia's departure, the signs point to panic. The good-natured King Akhmet in particular is concerned, as Sonia owns over 50% of the state and Sonia's marriage to a non-Marshovian could mean the end of his reign. When he catches his simple-minded wife Dolores in flagranti with Count Danilo, he comes up with a plan: Danilo should go to Paris and ensnare Sonia with his seductive skills until she agrees to marry. Of course Danilo agrees.
In Paris he meets his countless love affairs. He goes to Maxim’s and is seen by Sonia on his way there, who now also goes to Maxim’s, where she meets Danilo. He does not recognize her, however, since he last only saw her in widow's clothes and veiled. He thinks her a Maxim's girl, little more than a girl of pleasure, but he prefers it all the more since one can have fun with her without obligation. Sonia plays along with the game, introduces herself to him as "Fifi" and falls seriously in love with him during the course of the evening. Danilo, in turn, soon realizes that he is apparently not dealing with a Maxim's woman, but has already confided in her at the time that he only plays with women. When she leaves, he realizes that he actually loves her.
The Marshovian Embassy in Paris has big plans for Danilo the next day. First, Ambassador Popoff wants to bore the guest of honor at the embassy ball Sonia with his talk and then Danilo - nobody suspects that he and Sonia know each other - should appear as a savior and appear all the more attractive after Popoff's boring talk. The plans are the strictest state secret. Danilo, however, got drunk after Sonia's escape from Maxim's and had to be forced into his uniform by his servant the next morning. In delirium, Danilo announces that he will not marry "the widow" under any circumstances. The news spread like wildfire in Paris. The meeting of Danilo and Sonia is cool from their side, but Danilo is thrilled to see his "Fifi" again. He convinces her that he actually loves her when the incompetent pop-off in the next room loudly announces the marriage of Danilo and Sonia. Sonia now accuses Danilo of even being after her money and he confirms it because she wouldn't believe his love anyway. While Sonia leaves him and is having fun at the ball, Danilo is arrested for high treason.
In Marshovia he is tried because he was intoxicated and divulged the state's plan and this ultimately led to Sonia staying in Paris and King Achmet already stowing his crown in one of the royal couple's numerous moving boxes. Sonia unexpectedly appears at the trial and announces that Danilo is not a traitor. On the contrary: he deceived her as perfectly as possible. When Danilo was cross-examined from her and confirmed that she did not believe in his love for her, he pleaded guilty - “Let my punishment be a warning for all men. Any man who could dance through life with hundreds of women and would prefer to wander through life with one should be hanged! ”His closing words in the process were enthusiastically received by the husbands present.
Danilo is arrested and visited by Sonia in prison. Cleverly threaded by the king and the ambassador, both are locked in a cell and at the end of a period of dispute come so close that they say yes to each other in the cell.
production
Filming took place from April 9 to July 23, 1934 at MGM Studios in Culver City . The premiere was on October 11, 1934 in New York City . The costumes for the film are by Ali Hubert , the costumes by Jeanette MacDonald were created by Adrian .
At the same time as the American film, Lubitsch shot a French version with other supporting actors. The film was also released in 1934 under the title La Veuve joyeuse .
criticism
The lexicon of international films described The Merry Widow as an operetta film “with ironic distance. [Lubitsch] created - by adding funny plot details, through the elegant use of music and brilliant image design - a crackling erotic atmosphere. Not without signs of age, but very amusing. ”The Protestant Film Observer drew the following conclusion:“ A film adaptation of the Lehar operetta, which, thanks to Lubitsch's lively direction, is probably above some other film versions of this piece, but from today's perspective a bit antiquated works. "
Awards
Fredric Hope and Cedric Gibbons were awarded the Oscar for Best Production Design in 1935 for The Merry Widow .
Web links
- The Merry Widow in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Klaus Brüne (Ed.): Lexikon des Internationale Films, Vol. 5 . Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1990, p. 2343, ISBN 3-499-16322-5 .
- ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband München, Review No. 69/1951