For all the Jeremy Brett fans who have not yet had the chance to see this fun 1968 version of the Franz Lehar operetta! Jeremy had that flirtatious, glorious magnetism even at such an early age! Not to mention that musical rich baritone! I apologize for the poor video quality. I think this is the only version available out in circulation…hopefully the studio will take it upon themselves to produce a re-mastered, HD quality DVD of this version with glorious digital sound. Execs…if you are seeing this, please PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE consider making one for the open market. Jeremy Brett and Lehar fans will bless you FOREVER!
Enjoy music and JB lovers! X BTW, Jeremy makes his grand entrance (as only JB can!) at 15:32! Woot!
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Gorgeous!
Bless you for this! I bought the CD years ago on eBay but never expected to see the full production!
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO JERAMY BRETT THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU
Does anybody know whether it's possible to buy this film in good quality? It's impossible that such a masterpiece hasn't been preserved in better quality, I can't believe that!
Incredible talent.
Still after a half century the greatest Merry Widow on film. Mary Costa defines and owns the role: this should be retitled "The Mary Widow"!
Just discovered all on youtube, absolutely captivated by his many talents. Im afraid we lost him far too soon.
Esta versión es una delicia.
Adonis to play Danilo!
All the world's in love with love absolutely had me melting. God, Jeremy was so good!
What a glorious gem!
Nagyon tetszik. Csodás élmény a számomra. Köszönöm, hogy megnézhettem. Többször is megfogom. Lehár Ferenc örök és magyar, művei briliánsak.
Jeremy is utterly magnificent. Larger than life. I wonder what his parents looked like and were like. How cool they generated such a charisma machine 🙂
I hope you are still active as I am a media student and a huge Jeremy Brett fan I was hoping if you could send me the footage so I can possibly clean up the audio and the visuals I'm not promising anything but I'd love to try
It's interesting that Brett's singing was dubbed in My Fair Lady – totally unnecessary!
I never had a chance to see Jeremy Brett in a theater or musical production, so this is very much appreciated. I see hand gestures, facial expressions, that famous lip twitch, body movements that later became part of his Sherlock Holmes.
Have to say it, until he got sick in his late fifties Brett was the handsomest man in the world. Absolutely stunning! Not only was he a great actor with a great voice, but one could see he puts himself wholly into every role.
What fabulous place have I just landed in, thank you very much, I am now in love with Mr Brett
What a delightful romp! ?"Women, women, women, women" ? The age old male lament. Mary Costa is excellent. And Jeremy…???
I still don't understand why they dubbed over his singing voice in My Fair Lady, he could clearly sing beautifully
Who'd have thought that the great detective could sing so well, & so deliciously handsome?
Saw this years ago and loved it.Thrilled to find it here .Marvellous and so romantic ,Jeremy Brett mesmerising.
I've spent a lot of time trying to restore your video. Though not perfect, the result is pretty good. How can I send it to you?
The quality of the video is exponentially better than it was some months ago, with strong color and better sound. What did you do?
I am quite confused. Jeremy Brett sings so fine here. But he was dubbed for My Fair Lady!? Is it because The My Fair Lady part was more of a Tenor part? Anyone?
All's One to All Men Where There's Gold
Proceed
One girl has almond eyes
Agreed
That win the beauty prize
Indeed
The next, poor thing, relies on charms of coarser mould
I'd fly
Take on who's plain as sin
Not I!
Or Cleopatra's twin
I'll try
All's one to all men where there's gold
Beyond the Andes it may perhaps be so
It's human nature wherever you may go
I swear for my part, whatever I may do, You'll never hear me saying 'I love you'.
Im thinking of a smart lieutenant, No, not so very long ago. You were the boy I used to know, You were the boy that loved me so. Now look at him, that smart lieutenant, boasts half a dozen loves or more. And as for me, I've two or three. But can you guess what they love me for.
Why care
Their love for me has fled
But where?
They love my bank instead
They dare?
The good old days are dead the days when knights were bold.
And so?
The old hand four times wed
Ah no!
or rosebud convent-bred
O-ho
All's one to all men where there's gold!
In cave or jungle it may or may not be
From Timbuctoo, round the world, believe you me!
I swear for my part whatever I may do, You'll never hear me saying 'I love you'.
One day I'll catch you saying 'I love you'.
You'll never catch me saying 'I love you'.
Oh gypsycyn blessings upon thy head now that I have discovered your channel. May your dogs and horses flourish,may your gypsy wagon never break down when you take the high road and I take the low and both of us meet in a traffic jam on the Higggghwayy!
Seriously speaking, these comes under the category of unexpected treasures. I have subscribed, of course,thankee kindly Ma'am/ sir.
Is there anywhere at all the lyrics are available? I cannot find any on the whole web.
Men:
Ladies’ choice
Did you hear that gladd’ning voice?
It’s enough to rouse the hair
As well as make the heart rejoice
She looks this way at me
But will she say to me
Dear madam, I am standing by
And now it’s ladies’ choice
Hanna Glawari:
Gentlemen, though I may refuse
I’ve no objection
Gentlemen, how can I choose
With such a wide selection
If I don’t decide on one
I’ll be disappointing none
There are younger girls aplenty
Count Danilo: Better rich than sweet and twenty
Men: Take my arm, take the floor
Count Danilo: My club(???) assistant is a bore/boor(?)
Men: Once and then no more
Count Danilo: I must work to save the day
I must get these lads away
Storm breaks, thundering getting frightening
I’ll fetch conductors for their lightning
Man 1:
Just look at the way that she plays with me
The worst thing to do to a man
For all the attention she pays to me
One might as well be in Japan
Man 2:
For years women argue and fight to vote
On terms on a par with a man (?)
They’ve got what they wanted, the right to vote
What next if they don’t when they can?
Man 1: Here’s a proposal
Man 2: And here’s another
Both: My new election banner(?) now advance
Man 1: Vote for Mr. Cascada
Man 2: Vote for Mr. St Brioche
Both: He’s far the best one to choose for a dance
Men: Down with Mr. Cascada, Down with Mr. St Brioche
I’m far the best one to choose for a dance
Hanna Glawari:
My answer to that one is easy
For all party (cocussa grim?????)
The men are too bumptious and breezy
The women are (blouncy?) and prim
But if you insist on promoting
This game of a mock party fight
I’ll work for my country by voting
And win the election tonight
Man 1: I’ve had a brainwave
Man 2: I’ve had another
Hanna Glawari:
Then I must do the very best I can
Serious reflection goes before election
Which of the two is the proud, lucky man
All:
Serious reflection goes before election
Which of us all is the proud, lucky man
Hanna Glawari:
Gentlemen, you win
It looks as if you’re not to be resisted
Very well, I’ll make my choice
Women: Ladies’ choice, ladies’ choice
Count Danilo:
Rescued in the nick of time
Young lovers all awake
Night brings you waltz time
And the moonlight sings in waltz time
All the lanterns are swinging
And burning low
Where are the fond couples clinging?
As ‘round they go
Young lovers all take part
Bright, sign and beauty (???)
Play your part now
Do your duty
For the dawn breaks by and by
Woman: If you please, sir, here am I
Count Danilo:
Come away, come away, to the ball
Where the dreams that you dream will be true
For the strings, as they play, seem to call
Beckon and call to you
Come away, come away, to the waltz
Float along on a lilting refrain (???)
To the land of desire, where no heart can be false
And the world will be young again
Women:
Lead away, we all awake (???)
Choir:
Young lovers all awake
Night brings you waltz time
And the moonlight sings in waltz time
All the lanterns are swinging
And burning low
Where are the fond couples clinging?
As ‘round they go
Young lovers all take part
Bright, sign and beauty (???)
Play your part now
Do your duty
For the sun wakes, and the dawn breaks (???)
Young lovers all awake
(Night storms away?????)
Thank you, this was a wonderful, magical performance and I loved it. By far the best I have seen – better even than Maurice Chevalier. Thank you for this gem – what a talented man Jeremy Brett was.
I so love this! Jeremy Brett is mesmerizing, and Mary Costa is perfect in this role.
He was always so quick with those long legs..and the way he so energetically twirled the Merry Widow made me laugh. BUT, why all that makeup especially the blue and white eyeshadow? None of the others had so much.. why? Thank you so much for one enjoyable film.
xI think this is my favorite Jeremy Brett performance – he sings he dances he romances! And he's just that little bit camp. His entrance is delicious.
This is a classic! It is easily the best version of THE MERRY WIDOW.
Thank you. Interest in Brett is alive and well! I can't understand the females when they sing!
I was friends with Jeremy (and his former wife Anna Massey) during the late 60's. Always so charming and witty!
Jeremy B rett, what an actor!!! His presence enlightens the scene with his talent, elegance and charm. He is to be remembered with reverence!,,,
This is a beautiful, fun and touching production. So glad I stumbled upon this and enjoy Jeremy's jaw-dropping sensual magnetism. Thank you much for uploading!
Fans of the great Jeremy Brett may not realise that along side him and the equally great Mary Costa in this film you have several renowned opera singers of the past.
Joyce Blackham – a very popular Carmen with Sadlers Wells / English National Opera as Valencienne. Ryland Davies as Camille had an international career as a tenor and recorded a great deal. In the small role of Olga you have the amazing Czech singer Gita Denise who sang the role of Carmen at La Scala , Milan no less and later took a regular acting role in the soap opera Coronation Street.
Both Ryland and Gita were professors at the Royal Northern College of Music for a while which is where I met them.
Among the Grisettes you have Maureen Keetch who broadcast regularly with The Parlour Quartet, Soo Bee Lee an enchanting and popular soprano from Singapore, later professor at London College of Music and Ann Hood , a well known principal of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company who went on to sing at the English National Opera and had a big success as Otrud in Wagner's Lohengrin. Last but least there is the inomitable Derek Hammond Stroud. This film is a treasure trove – thank you Gypsycyn!
Jeremyh Brett and Mary Costa two great artists in an English version
Hard to believe the My Fair Lady people thought it was a good idea to dub JB…incredible!
Yes Definitely someone or the BBC make this into DVD for all fans of the late Jeremy Brett!!!!
Delighted to discover this recording. I was one of the six boy dancers employed by Norman Maen for this production. My memory is that the singing was recorded live, the orchestra being in another studio at Riverside.. Strategically placed monitors kept the performers in contact with the musical director. Bill Drysdale
In a generation in love with Justin Bieber and One Direction, lost in love with Jeremy <3
What a VOICE. And his jawline could cut steel.
Brett had such a stunning voice I could listen to it for hours
I wish the BBC had used June Bronhill in the role of Anna in this production.
I know this is slightly random, but, where did you get this from? I wanted to buy it, but I can't find it anywhere, and I'm afraid this might get taken down one day.
Other than that, thank you so much for uploading this, I think it's my favourite film starring Jeremy Brett. 🙂
Please be sure to keep uploading this even if Youtube takes it down one day. You're doing a cultural favour here. It's important for younger generations such as myselfm