The Merry Widow

US (1952): Musical

This is the third screen version of the Lehar operetta, this time in Technicolor^© with Lana Turner and Fernando Lamas in the leads. An attempt by MGM to remake Turner as a musical star (Enzio Pinza costarred with her in Mr. Imperium of 1951), but the film was a notorious failure. The trappings are fine as is Lamas, and Turner, with dubbed singing voice by an uncredited Trudy Erwin, wears her gowns with style. Curtis Bernhardt directs a screenplay by Sonya Levien and William Ludwig. Cast also includes Una Merkel, Richard Haydn, Thomas Gomez, King Donovan and Robert Coote. Watch for Gwen Verdon as a dancer in the "Can-Can" number. (amctv.com)

 Use this link to view the original theatrical trailer for The Merry Widow on TCM.com.

2 nominations