- Jeanette MacDonald, The Merry Widow, 1933. Maurice Chevalier’s MGM contract gave him co-star approval. Therefore, Joan Crawford, Grace Moore and Gloria Swanson, even Laye (musical comedy queen of London’s West End) were seen for Sonia, the widow, when the fussy Frenchman was no longer getting on with MacDonald. Nor with playing “the charming prince and lieutenant roles.” (What did he expect wiz zat acksent? Cowboys and gangsters!).
Birth year: 1900Death year: 1996Other name: Casting Calls: 1