The Merry Widow
“M-G-M presents the saucy new musical!”
Synopsis
Marshovia, a small European kingdom, is on the brink of bankruptcy but the country may be saved if the wealthy American Crystal Radek, widow of a Marshovian, can be convinced to part with her money and marry the king's nephew count Danilo. Arriving to Marshovia on a visit, Crystal Radek change places with her secretary Kitty. Following them to Paris, Danilo has a hard time wooing the widow after meeting an attractive young woman at a nightclub, the same Crystal Radek who presents herself as Fifi the chorus girl. Plot by Mattias Thuresson.
Top Cast
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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 Rubener
Gypsy Girl (as Sujata)
Lisa Ferraday
Marcella
Shepard Menken
Kunjany
Ludwig Stössel
Major Domo
John Alban
Club Patron (uncredited)
Erville Alderson
Cart Driver (uncredited)
Bette Arlen
Girl at Maxim's (uncredited)
Frank Arnold
Waiter (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor
Reception Guest (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 5, 1952
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 17, 2015
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Curtis Bernhardt
- Screenplay & Story
- Sonya Levien, William Ludwig
- Original Score
- Irving Aaronson, Franz Lehár
- Original Title
- The Merry Widow
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Curtis Bernhardt
Sonya Levien, William Ludwig, Viktor Léon, Leo Stein, Paul Francis Webster
Irving Aaronson, Franz Lehár
Robert Surtees
Conrad A. Nervig
Joe Pasternak
Department Leadership Roster
Curtis Bernhardt
Director
Helen Rose
Costume Design
Robert Surtees
Director of Photography
Conrad A. Nervig
Editor
Joe Pasternak
Producer
Sonya Levien
Screenplay
William Ludwig
Screenplay
Franz Lehár
Original Music Composer
Viktor Léon
Writer
Leo Stein
Writer
Gile Steele
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Merry Widow.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Merry Widow.
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
list_Music
Movies categorized under Music
Oscar Best Costume Design Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Costume Design Nominees
Oscar Best Art Direction/Production Design Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Art Direction/Production Design Nominees
Oscars 1953
Nominees and selected films for the 25th Academy Awards (ceremony year 1953).
Seasonal: Oscar Season Picks
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Merry Widow
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Merry Widow about?
Marshovia, a small European kingdom, is on the brink of bankruptcy but the country may be saved if the wealthy American Crystal Radek, widow of a Marshovian, can be convinced to part with her money and marry the king's nephew count Danilo. Arriving to Marshovia on a visit, Crystal Radek change places with her secretary Kitty. Following them to Paris, Danilo has a hard time wooing the widow after meeting an attractive young woman at a nightclub, the same Crystal Radek who presents herself as Fifi the chorus girl. Plot by Mattias Thuresson.
Who directed The Merry Widow?
The Merry Widow was directed by Curtis Bernhardt.
Who stars in The Merry Widow?
The principal cast of The Merry Widow includes Lana Turner, Fernando Lamas, Una Merkel, Richard Haydn, Thomas Gomez.
When was The Merry Widow released and how long is it?
The Merry Widow was released in 1952 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for The Merry Widow?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Merry Widow was composed by Irving Aaronson, Franz Lehár.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Merry Widow?
The Merry Widow holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).