There’s a fun movie… an old one (1935)… that has been a family favorite around here for … well.. a very long time.
It is based on the light opera the ‘Merry Widow’ and stars in the film adaptation with Jannette MacDonald as the ‘widow’ and Maurice Chevalier as ‘the lover’.
The story is an old one… and forgetting about the overall plot for a moment … it really addresses the question… can a career playboy really settle down?
In the movies… yes… in real life… no.
However, it is worth the watch as it will make you smile. The Merry Widow actually won an Oscar… which is surprising given the fact that most Oscar winning movies have fallen into the dust bin of time. The humor is priceless… here the king is worried about a revolution:
King Achmet: So they’re blaming me, huh?
Valet: For everything. They’re even telling jokes about your majesty.
King Achmet: Are they funny?
Valet: No.
King Achmet: That’s bad.
Some may find this movie to be less real in the world of today… Even in Britney & Paris‘s circles … and in the wake of the partying McKinney High school cheerleaders… redemption, love and marriage are not totally lost or forgotten…. possibly… just hibernating.
Besides, if a lasting relationship is what you want… Love and marriage is as strong and durable as any two people wish to make it.
One of the best researchers into relationships is John Gottman of the University of Washington… the last I heard he was interested in how successful relationships maintain themselves… as opposed to just reparing those that break up. You can read more here.
Roger Freberg