The Merry Widow (1952): cast, story & where to watch
1952 · Film · ★ 5.1
Released in 1952, The Merry Widow is a drama and music film directed by Curtis Bernhardt, running about 105 minutes. “M-G-M presents the saucy new musical!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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’s in it. The Merry Widow stars Lana Turner as Crystal Radek, Fernando Lamas as Count Danilo, Una Merkel as Kitty Riley and Richard Haydn as Baron Popoff, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.1/10, The Merry Widow has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Merry Widow page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Merry Widow tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Merry Widow (1952)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Merry Widow change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Merry Widow worth watching?
- The Merry Widow holds an audience score of 5.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Merry Widow?
- The Merry Widow stars Lana Turner, Fernando Lamas, Una Merkel, Richard Haydn and Thomas Gomez.
- When was The Merry Widow released?
- The Merry Widow was released in 1952, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.