After Lana Turner's millionaire husband Bob Topping left her in 1951, she slashed her wrist and had to wear a bracelet during this shoot to cover the scar.
A Merry Widow is a short, strapless corset or corselette with half-cups for the breasts and long garters. It was first made by the foundations company Warner's of Bridgeport, CT in 1952, to coincide with the release of this movie.
Una Merkel previously appeared as Queen Dolores in the 1934 film version of La vedova allegra (1934), starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald.
Turner and Lamas were romantically involved during the film and were set to co-star in Amanti latini (1953), but had a falling-out, and she had him replaced with Ricardo Montalban a week before shooting was to begin.
After MGM released the 1952 remake of "The Merry Widow", the studio ceased further distribution of the earlier versions so as not to compete with the remake's box office take. The 1925 silent film disappeared entirely for decades, not to be seen again until it was reclaimed by Turner Classic Movies. The 1934 version turned up on television with a new title, "A Lady Dances", to minimize confusion, as the more recent 1952 version was also leased to local television stations.