I guess Merry Widow was public domain,cause the Viennese company did not have to ask permission for American M.g.m if they could make their version.It never came to the united states.Peter plays a 1962 modern Danillo, who's a playboy nephew of his wealthy uncle Andre,played by Maurice Taynac,who hangs around the follies Berger in Paris,that his Uncle owns and plays with the chorus girls,especially the revue star Valencienne.The problem is she's married and it triggers jealousy form her husband Camillo,played by Dario Mareno,Gunther Phillips plays Peters side kick.During a party and a fashion show,at his uncles Hotel, his uncles secretary Hanna ,played by Karen Hubner, shows up at the ball and Danillo falls in love with her,only to get rejected because he's a play boy.His uncle feels he plays too much and wants him to work.With the agreement of his secretary they fake a mock marriage and a mock death ,so she ends up being a widows and has all the money ,so that Peter would end up going to work and become responsible .But, his friend try to get Danillo to marry her so he can get his uncles money and hotel back all the songs from the operetta are sand in modern 1962 style music ,with that traditional sound echo affects the film makers would put in their musical films to give it a depth affect,which actually made it sound more cheap.This is an excellent modern 1962 Austrian version of Frank Lehar's operetta with peter Alexander 01/26/14
Review of Die lustige Witwe
