The Merry Widow

Jeanette MacDonald is Sonia, a bubbly widow who owns 52% of every cow and cowtown in the tiny European country of Marshovia. When she relocates to glittery Paris, suave ladies’ man Captain Danilo (Maurice Chevalier) sets out in hot pursuit. His mission: avert his homeland’s financial ruin by bringing Sonia back on the wings of love. But hang on tight, Danilo. Love always flies a delirious course when legendary director Ernst Lubitsch, known for sophisticated wit and a style affectionately dubbed as “the Lubitsch touch” is at the helm. A frothy, high-spirited gem based on Franz Lehar’s operetta, The Merry Widow set the standard for musicals to come. And it confirmed what MGM’s top brass already knew: Jeanette MacDoanld was a major star. So enjoy the rapturous music, the sparkling dialogue and the swirling “Merry Widow Waltz.” You’ll have to look far and wide for a better comic operetta than this.