Customer Reviews

Merry Widow [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The script is pedestrian but the dancing is superb. Picture Lana Turner at the height of her beauty dressed in fabulous gowns that showcase her hour-glass figure. The final waltz alone makes this video worth its price. Lana and Fernando whirl around a mirrored ballroom to the haunting strains of Lehar's "Merry Widow Waltz". The film demonstrates that, in addition to being beautiful, Turner was an incredibly graceful dancer. The music, Turner's poignant beauty, and fabulous dancing make this unforgettable.

Lana Turner and Fernando Lamas light up the screen in MGM's watered-down version of Franz Lehar's operetta THE MERRY WIDOW.

Crystal Radek (Lana Turner) is invited to a forgotten little European kingdom where her dead husband was born, so she can attend the unveiling of a statue dedicated to his memory.

Little does she know that the Government is more interested in her 8-million-dollar inheritance than anything else! Count Danilo (Fernando Lamas) is called on to seduce Crystal and marry her, and ensure that her millions are put to use in the European back-water town.

Crystal gets wise, however, and decides that if Danilo is going to fall in love with anything, it will be her and not her money!

Featuring the delightful Una Merkel and Gwen Verdon leading the can-can chorus, it's full of plush sets and gorgeous costumes. One of MGM's most lavish and enjoyable musicals.

MGM released this film in 1952, I had just turned 13, and other than the Merry Widow Waltz, had no knowledge of the Operetta, but I was very familiar with the Beautiful Lana Turner, so I went to see the film, and what a feast for the eye and ear it was, Ms. Turner never looked lovlier, Lamas, who I had never heard of before, was dashing, handsome, and did justice to his part in the film, but make no mistake, this is a big budget LANA TURNER MOVIE, with the most beautiful costumes (tastful as well, many times movie costumes are overdone, not here) MGM and it's vast resources could make, as were the sets, to borrow a line from the film "this room is like a birthday cake" indeed, the palace is fairytale gorgeous, if you are familiar with the Operetta, and don't take well to adaptations, this film is not for you, it closely follows the main story line, but doesn't have any of the sub plots found in the original, but viewed on it's own merits, this is a stunning fantasy that will have you enchanted for hours, if not days after viewing this DVD, HOWEVER, I rated the movie 5 stars because it deserves every one of them and more, it is so good it even overcomes the dreadful DVD, which is nothing more than a direct copy of an off the shelf vhs tape, that could be purchased at any vidio store a while back, does anybody still make or sell prerecorded vhs tapes today?, it is my sincerest hope that some day (soon please) the MGM copyright holder (Sony, you listening) will go to the film, digitize it, and put out the stunning DVD, it deserves, not this really crappy copy of a vhs tape

Just 'burned' the two versions of the Merry Widow off TCM - the earlier B&W McDonald/Chevalier film is the superior one by far; however, this updated color version w/ attractive co-stars (Turner & Lamas) is much better than I expected; the production is lavish which is typical for 'musicals' of the time - Turner is gorgeous, as usual & Lamas much better than I expected - certainly worth a watch, but try to see the other film as a comparison!

I was most pleased with my order which I placed and received of the Merry Widow. It arrived sooner than expected and the tape was in excellent condition. I would not hesitate to place another order in the future. All in all it exceeded my expectations. Thank you.

"Merry Widow" is just one of those movies that is fun and relaxing to see.

IT IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE, VERY LUSH WITH MUSIC, COSTUMES AND LANA TURNER WAS NEVER MORE BEAUTIFUL.

I thought this movie was very poor. Especially Fernando Lamas. How he was considered a singer and heart throb is beyond me. He sounds like he`s got a mouth full of S... with that horrible accent. A lot of romantiac mush. Poor Lana having to indure being cast with him.

The quality of the VHS is not very good. The sound track is actually very bad. It must be a copy from some bad source.