Ninotchka (1939)

[zen007]

Film: Ninotchka (1939)
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Oscars: 0

A disciplined comrade travels to Paris tasked with selling jewelry of Russian aristocrats to fund government projects. Despite her dislike for the capitalist society, she falls in love with a count.

• Story/Screenplay: Masterfully written with superb sequences and witty dialogues. (10/10)
• Acting: Greta Garbo as Ninotchka is brilliant in her comic role. Melvyn Douglas is witty. The supporting cast is likable. (9/10)
• Cinematography: The focus here is keeping things simple, which works for the film. (7/10)
• Background score: Does its job. (7/10)
• Direction: Solid direction to craft a memorable film that stands the test of time. (10/10)
• Uniqueness/Impact: Garbo's performance may have inspired Arnold's in Red Heat. Overall, Greta Garbo in a comedy film, fine performances by the rest of the cast, and witty dialogues make it a memorable experience. (10/10)

Overall score: 53/60 = 88% = 8.8/10 (Great 9-10, Good 7-8, Average 5-6, Bad 3-4, Worst 1-2)


I do not recall watching too many Garbo films. Therefore, this is probably like my first Garbo film. I enjoyed her performance in a comedy role. Ninotchka is probably her first comedy film and good to see it stand the test of time.

How do you rate Ninotchka? Which is your favorite Garbo film/performance?

[principehomura]

I definetely have to see more of Garbo... this and Queen Christina are her only two films I've seen so far... so I don't have any formed opinion on her.

As for Ninotchka it is a good film... but it becomes underwhelming if you think it is from Lubitsch.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by principehomura

I definetely have to see more of Garbo... this and Queen Christina are her only two films I've seen so far... so I don't have any formed opinion on her.

As for Ninotchka it is a good film... but it becomes underwhelming if you think it is from Lubitsch.

How is Queen Christina? Has the film aged well?

[bluenote23]

None available on blu ray, I think her best films are the silents, starting with the Torrent. If you buy into her mystique (like you fall in love with her) then almost all of them are gems: The Temptress (with the Mauritz Stiller party scene), Love, Flesh and the Devil, A Single Standard, The Kiss...Mysterious Lady, Wild Orchids.

Of the talkies, I think the best, other than her bit in Grand Hotel, is Camille. A lot of her other talkies, Anna Christie, Romance, Anna Karenina, Mata Hari seemed to be taking her persona from the silents and transposing it on an older, different woman which lost some of the magic for me.

I remember liking Susan Lennox and Queen Christina. Ninotchka is great but being a comedy is something of an anomaly.

Garbo was so huge in her day and it is a bit sad that she seems to be kind of forgotten (but not by all!) these days.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by bluenote23

None available on blu ray, I think her best films are the silents, starting with the Torrent. If you buy into her mystique (like you fall in love with her) then almost all of them are gems: The Temptress (with the Mauritz Stiller party scene), Love, Flesh and the Devil, A Single Standard, The Kiss...Mysterious Lady, Wild Orchids.

Of the talkies, I think the best, other than her bit in Grand Hotel, is Camille. A lot of her other talkies, Anna Christie, Romance, Anna Karenina, Mata Hari seemed to be taking her persona from the silents and transposing it on an older, different woman which lost some of the magic for me.

I remember liking Susan Lennox and Queen Christina. Ninotchka is great but being a comedy is something of an anomaly.

Garbo was so huge in her day and it is a bit sad that she seems to be kind of forgotten (but not by all!) these days.

Thanks for the write-up on Garbo films. I checked out Ninitchka as I came across it on the Criterion Channel. Will try to catch the other films as well.

[principehomura]

Originally Posted by zen007

How is Queen Christina? Has the film aged well?

Honestly I don't remember much of it... but I didn't find it a masterpiece for sure.

[Beckford]

For years I couldn't get enthused about Garbo. Couldn't get past what I interpreted as remoteness, a disconnect from relatable human emotion. Oddly, it was one of her lesser known films ("The Painted Veil" from 1934) that finally provided me with a way into appreciating her mystique. Now, years later, my enthusiasm for this film (and performance) remains undiminished.
Having seen more of her work now, I'd have to agree that she definitely achieved greatness more than once in the silent era. "The Temptress" is amazing. And - though I like the whole film - the first half hour or so of "The Mysterious Lady" constitutes perhaps the most spell-bindingly sustained romantic sequence ever filmed.
I find "Susan Lenox" and "Queen Christina" very pleasing too but haven't warmed to celebrated titles like "Camille" and "Anna Karenina". "Ninotchka" has never raised a chuckle in this quarter. But her other comedy, "Two-Faced Woman" always has me smiling from beginning to end. I find Garbo both charming and funny in it. And - of course - throughout her career she was always beautiful looking.
I've read that she briefly considered coming out of retirement to star in Hitchcock's "The Paradine Case". Alida Valli's luminous performance in that film has always been a favorite of mine. But I must admit it would have been fascinating to see Garbo onscreen in the late 40's.

[zen007]

Originally Posted by Beckford

I've read that she briefly considered coming out of retirement to star in Hitchcock's "The Paradine Case". Alida Valli's luminous performance in that film has always been a favorite of mine. But I must admit it would have been fascinating to see Garbo onscreen in the late 40's.

Garbo in a Hitchcock film would have been interesting!

[erikux]

Can someone confirm if that disc of Ninotchka has Portuguese subtitles and audio?
THanks!