S4E09b - The Merry Widow [1934] with Tim Brayton

How Would Lubitsch Do It?

It’s our season finale, and the end of the pre-code era! To celebrate, Tim Brayton returns to discuss THE MERRY WIDOW. We effuse about the film’s infectious energy, the many incredible ‘Lubitsch Touch’ moments and gestures, discuss Lubitsch’s extremely loose adaptation of the Lehar operetta, the French-language version, Edward Everett Horton’s greatest role, the film’s relationship with love and death, the more “conservative” nature of the film’s resolution, and much more!

With that, Season 4 of HOW WOULD LUBITSCH DO IT comes to a close, and with it the pre-code era. Oh how we’ll miss you, lax Hays office overseers.

Thanks to the guests who lent their time and support to this season: Jennifer Fleeger, Katharine Coldiron, Jonathan Mackris, Will Sloan, Matt Severson, Lea Jacobs, Tanya Goldman, Willa Ross, Krin Gabbard, Molly Rasberry, Jordan Fish, Ray Tintori, Z Behl, Eric Dienstfrey and Tim Brayton.

Our editors: Gloria Mercer, Griffin Sheel, Sophia Yoon, & Rylee Cronin.

Our location sound engineer, Anna Citak-Scott.

And others who lent valuable counsel and support: Peter Labuza, Jose Arroyo, the Margaret Herrick Library, Dave Kehr and the Museum of Modern Art, Dara Jaffe and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Patrick Keating, Scott Eyman, Paul Cuff, David Cairns, and all the members of our Discord.

We have a Discord!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

NEXT SEASON:

The censor’s hammer falls, and Lubitsch’s career comes to a close in grand fashion in Season 5.

WORKS CITED:

MPAA Production Code Administration Records for THE MERRY WIDOW

The Merry Widow Blog Entry by Jose Arroyo