"The Merry Widow," 1925 Silent Film: A Brief Introduction 

Preparing for a screening with live music at Atlas Performing Arts Center in DC on December 3, this is a brief introduction to the MGM feature "The Merry Widow," an adaptation of the 1905 operetta by composer Franz Lehar. Film director Erich Von Stroheim created the adaptation with Benjamin Glazer, adding many new (and darker) elements to the original story. The picture stars John Gilbert as Danilo and Mae Murray as Sally O'Hara (the "widow" of the title). Roy d'Arcy plays a smarmy Crown Prince Mirko, who is a rival of Danilo's for the attentions of Sally.
The music in the underscore is Lehar's famous "Merry Widow Waltz," which I perform here. On Dec. 3 I will perform an original score created in real time, although this waltz will be incorporated (particularly in the ballroom dance sequences). The waltz is also referenced in the film by a piece of sheet music showing Lehar's notes, but titled "Siren Waltz."