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Von Stroheim’s infamous Hollywood legacy involved battles with studio chiefs, the frequent slashing of his films to less than half their intended running times and his departure from directing at the beginning of the sound period; he preferred instead to assume acting roles as implacable, monacled, mysterious Europeans (most notably in Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, 50). Still, there is no questioning that, as a director, von Stroheim signed his name to some of cinema’s most enduring works. The Merry Widow is one of Hollywood’s most sublimely salacious melodramas. Its plot, neither simple nor predictable, is deliriously compelling; it delivers a lurid tale of a decaying central European aristocracy. American showgirl Sally O’Hara (Mae Murray) strays into the kingdom of Monteblanco (a clear stand-in for Austria’s Hapsburg Empire). She immediately encounters the cousins, Crown Prince Mirko (Roy D’Arcy) and Prince Danilo (a less-dashing-than-usual John Gilbert), rogue royalty ensconced in a provincial inn, carousing with their soldiers and seducing the local women. After a glimpse of Sally’s stockings, Mirko, Danilo and the powerful, geriatric Baron Sadoja (Tully Marshall) decide to possess the vivacious beauty by any means. Naturally, death, double-dealings and much debauchery ensue. Von Stroheim remains one of cinema’s most influential auteurs and this chance to see The Merry Widow, with stirring live musical accompaniment, should not be missed. – Toronto Film Festival

This unique screening of The Merry Widow, Erich von Stroheim’s adaptation of the Franz Lehár operetta, will be accompanied by Jan Preston on piano, Phil Hartl on violin and Cazzbo on tuba and valve trombone. Preston’s score for the performance will combine original composition and themes from Lehár’s famous musical. Jan Preston is recognised as one of Australia’s leading female film composers. She was led into film via a documentary for New Zealand actor, Sam Neill, so beginning a love affair with the screen which has resulted in her producing scores for hundreds of documentaries and seven feature films. She has won three awards for her film scores and was recently chosen to represent Sydney at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Carolyn ‘Cazzbo’ Johns is Principal Tuba in the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. She is also a mainstay in the irrepressible Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, on sousaphone, electric bass, jug and swanee whistle. This band, with its ‘New Vaudeville with Attitude’ blend of comedy, circus and satire is a regular on the folk and blues festival circuit. Phillip Hartl is a Sydney-based violinist and has performed as concertmaster and soloist on many local and international feature films.

USA/Germany. Director, scr, prod: Erich von Stroheim. Scr: Erich von Stroheim, Benjamin Glazer, based on the operetta, Die Lustige Witwe, by Franz Lehár. Phot: Oliver Marsh, William Daniels, Ben Reynolds, Ray Rennahan. Prod. des: Cedric Gibbons, Richard Day. Ed: Frank Hull, Irving Thalberg. Leading players: Mae Murray, John Gilbert, Roy D’Arcy, Tully Marshall, Josephine Crowell. Prod. co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Print source: Degeto Film GmbH, Am Steinernen Stock 1, Bertramshof, 60320 Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. ph: +49691509370. fax: +49691509393. e: degeto@degeto.de. Prod. yr: 1925. 35mm. 111mins.