Silent films examples greatest films the best movies. This year the stanford theatre foundation presents two silent film operettas. As beautiful and charming as lubitschs film with macdonald and chevalier is, stroheims is infinitely. This film was nominated for best art direction and best costumes, and no wonder. This months silent movie is the merry widow 1925, running time 7 minutes, based on the 1905 operetta of the same name by franz lehar. Sacred heart silent movie night 2017 the merry widow in. Only in silent film does the music play such an important role, bringing life and emotion to the film and characters, creating a unique, magical world.
Movie still photographs, plot synopsis and credits for the silent film the merry widow, released in 1925. Jan 17, 2015 the met operas broadcast of lehars the merry widow will be presented live in select cinemas nationwide on saturday, january 17 at 12. Essay by andrea chase, alexandria volk, melissa chittick, and stephen salmons. However i remembered that you mentioned that it was a silent movie so i looked through those and found both movies had silent versions.
The merry widow 1934 movie herald maurice chevalier, jeanette macdonald. The merry widow 1952 the 1952 film version of the merry widow starring lana turner and fernando lamas, was nominated for oscars for best costume design by helen rose and gile steele and best art directionset decoration by a team of designers led by cedric gibbons. The idea of a silent film based on operetta might seem contrary, but the marriage of film and music during the silent era was a natural extension for both arts, creating extraordinary experience of live. How to watch silent movies if you want to the toast. Although the merry widow seems to be very much a film of its time on the cusp of the refined sophistication of much late american silent cinema, some of its compositions, as well as aspects of its exposition, seem more characteristic of earlier silent cinema. He provides live musical accompaniment on our historic mighty andy crow wurlitzer organ a treasure restored from 1924. The merry widow had an obstaclefilled route to success. This 1952 version of the merry widow couldnt possibly compare to the 1934 lubitsch production, but mgm went all out to make a lavish, colorful film starring lana turner and fernando lamas.
She proceeded to reach the pinnacle of silent cinema superstardom, performing in more than 40 popular programmers. Here, she is the virgin who becomes the much sought after prize. Our silent movie series is curated by dennis james, our house organist. He was the young studios biggest male star, working with such top directors as king vidor the big parade. Hardly a thoroughgoing study of the movies plot and characters. His uncle, king nikita i of monteblanco forbids the marriage because she is a commoner. Its all about central european royalty natch, an empty treasury and an extremely wealthy widow. The merry widow is a classic operettafrothy, frivolous, and fun. The strengths of its ernest vajdasamuel raphaelson screenplay go far beyond the usual boy meets girl scenario concocted for movie musicals of this or any other vintage. Get the best deals on film heralds when you shop the largest online selection at. Its difficult to imagine that a silent adaptation of a great operetta could be superior to a sound version, but such is the case. Warner archive has released three classic silent or part silent films. Step into the ballrooms of paris and join us for our production of the merry widow a lighthearted production filled with tangled affairs, narrow misses and jealous lovers. Sep 22, 2017 sacred heart silent movie night 2017 the merry widow at sacred heart cultural center on friday sep 22, 2017 at 7.
It is my opinion that john gilbert was the handsomest man in the world and greta garbo was crazy not to marry him. The merry widow 1925 the phantom of the opera 1925 seven chances 1925 tumbleweeds. In the new york times, critic bosley crowther described this treatment of the muchfilmed victor leon operetta as the most. Amys silent movie of the month the merry widow 1925. Across profound generational shifts in popular taste, it remains to this day the most performed operetta of all time, which at the time of its birth 1905, december 30th was a more competitive title than you might think. By 1929 silent film production had ended in hollywood. Released by metrogoldwynmayer, the film stars mae murray, john gilbert, roy darcy, and tully marshall, with prefame uncredited appearances by joan crawford and clark gable.
The merry widow was a lavishlystaged production shot on a long schedule 19 weeks, very unusual for the time with a large cast of extras. The merry widow 1925 mae murray is a brassy american gal who catches the eye of pretty much every eligible bachelor in a sleazy little mitteleuropean city state. If you look carefully, you can spot clark gable and myrna loy among the bit players, several years before either would become a star. The audience is brought into this world as an active participant. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. The glamorous mae murrays first footfall on stage stopped the ziegfeld follies. The merry widow san francisco silent film festival. Maud nelissen talking about composing music for silent films at a. Operating under royal orders, a count must woo a young and wealthy widow in order to save a kingdom from bankruptcy. The story is told bittersweet and tender, with revealing and uniquely sincere glimpses into the human heart. On the rebound, she marries a nasty old baron who keels over on their wedding night, leaving sally not only merry, but rich enough to attract a bevy of suitors. Graham, right, in a more elegant moment, in the title role of the merry widow at the met in 2015. Jun 19, 2014 the merry widow 1925 this version of the merry widow there have been, like, nine adaptations is easily my favorite.
The merry widow is a 1934 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by franz lehar. When mgm producer irving thalberg agreed to give the. A prince must woo the now wealthy dancer he once abandoned in order to keep her money in the country in order to keep it from crashing economically. Mae murray sally ohara, john gilbert prince danilo petrovitch, roy darcy crown prince mirko, george fawcett king nikita i of monteblanco, josephine crowell queen milena, tully marshall baron sixtus sadoja, count albert conti danilos adjutant, sidney. It is shown at a proper silent movie speed and runs 7 minutes.
Although the merry widow seems to be very much a film of its time on the cusp of the refined sophistication of much late american silent. Warner archive restores the merry widow the new york times. Most of the films in the following list were produced in the us, although the exceptions are noted. The merry widow mgm 1934 warner archive collection with its uberglamorous intercontinental wit and sophistication set to the tune of franz lehrs immortal lilting melodies, ernest lubitschs the merry widow 1934 remains a champagne cocktail of chic good taste a movie musical par excellence and the definitive version of this much. Mae murray in the merry widow 1925 john gilbert and mae murray in the merry widow. The tiny nation of pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the dashing count danilo must rescue his country by marrying the newly widowed and fabulously wealthy. On yom kippur, cantor rabinowitz played by warner oland looks forward to when his yearold. This 1925 romantic drama follows john gilbert as dashing prince danillo whose love for american follies dancer sally ohara mae murray outlasts. By contrast, the merry widow features a wonderful organ score by dennis james who does a superb job using the might of the organ in the fox theatre in atlanta, ga to make the screen come alive, using music from the popular operetta which audiences in 1925 wouldve understood and attributed to the story. It marked the ascendancy of talkies and the end of the silent film era. This is particularly true of many of the compositions in depth which, rather than. The merry widow not rated 2h 17min drama, romance 25 january 1926 uk a prince must woo the now wealthy dancer he once abandoned in order to keep her money in the country in order to keep it from crashing economically.
Based on franz lehars operetta, the merry widown is an amusing and intelligent film. While some of the nudge nudge aspects had me rolling my eyes, i generally enjoyed the film and the performances. Mar 23, 2014 the merry widow is a pearl of a silent. Released in october 1934, the merry widow brought to an end the spirited series of musicals operettas, really that ernst lubitsch had begun with his first sound film, the love. With lana turner, fernando lamas, una merkel, richard haydn. A pearl because it can be quite beautiful and because it was produced through an enormous amount of irritation.
The librettists, viktor leon and leo stein, based the story concerning a rich widow, and her countrymens attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband on an 1861 comedy play, lattache dambassade the embassy attache by henri meilhac. Media in category the merry widow 1925 film the following 6 files are in this category, out of 6 total. Thinking she has been jilted by her prince, sally marries. The merry widow 1925 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The merry widow dvdr 1925 warner archive collection. Crown prince mirko of monteblanco and his cousin and secondinline to the throne prince danilo petrovich gilbert stop at an inn along with their traveling party.
It was directed and produced by ernst lubitsch and starred maurice chevalier and jeanette macdonald. John gilbert was the golden boy at mgm during the final years of the silent era. Cleopatra 1917 lost film the immigrant 1917 joan the woman 1917 the outlaw and his wife 1917, sweden. There have been a number of remakes, the most notable being the 1952 version with lana turner which also had una merkel in the cast. The merry widow is an exemplar of the musicalcomedy. The merry widow is absolutely gorgeous, with the most heavenly costumes and sets.
To do so, all of the singing, except for one short section, was taken away from turner. Many characters and scenes were changed in this hollywood adaptation. Not rated 2h 17min drama, romance 25 january 1926 uk a prince must woo the now wealthy dancer he once abandoned in order to keep her money in the country in order to keep it from crashing economically. John barrymore vintage 1926 silent film don juan original vitaphone movie herald. Mar 24, 2019 the merry widow spread from vienna to berlin and hamburg, and then to london and broadway, on a spectacular opening night at the new amsterdam theatre in 1907. He provides live musical accompaniment on our historic mighty andy crow wurlitzer organa treasure restored from 1924 this 1925 romantic drama follows john gilbert as dashing prince danillo whose love for american follies dancer sally ohara mae murray outlasts their broken engagement and her subsequent. The films excellent camerawork was singled out as groundbreaking by the industry and the critics. Turner looks fabulous and despite the long gowns, gets to show off her legs.
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