The Merry Widow (1925 film)

The Merry Widow
Directed byErich von Stroheim
Written byErich von Stroheim
Benjamin Glazer
Based onThe Merry Widow
1905 operetta
by Franz Lehár
Victor Léon (libretto)
Leo Stein (libretto)
Produced byErich von Stroheim
Irving Thalberg (uncredited)
StarringMae Murray
John Gilbert
Roy D'Arcy
Tully Marshall
CinematographyOliver T. Marsh
William H. Daniels
Edited byFrank E. Hull
Margaret Booth (uncredited)
Music byWilliam Axt (uncredited)
David Mendoza (uncredited)
Franz Lehár (non-original music)
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • August 26, 1925 (1925-08-26)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$592,000[1][2]
Box office$1.933 million (worldwide rentals)[1][2]
The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow is a 1925 American silent romantic drama/black comedy film directed and written by Erich von Stroheim. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film stars Mae Murray, John Gilbert, Roy D'Arcy, and Tully Marshall,[3][4] with pre-fame uncredited appearances by Joan Crawford and Clark Gable.

The film is based on the Franz Lehár's 1905 operetta of the same name, and was its second film adaptation, the first being a 1918 Hungarian film directed by Michael Curtiz.

While a print of the film still survives, the end sequence shot in two-tone Technicolor is now lost. [dubious – discuss]

  1. ^ a b Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM film grosses, 1924-1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (2): 127–144. doi:10.1080/01439689200260081.
  2. ^ a b Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "Appendix". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 12 (S2): 1–20. doi:10.1080/01439689208604539.
  3. ^ Variety film review; September 2, 1925, p. 36.
  4. ^ Harrison's Reports film review; September 12, 1925, p. 147.