Mata Hari (1931)

Watch The all time Garbo Classic; Mata Hari

1930 Movie with Greta Garbo, Ramon Novarro,Lionel Barrymore.
Here is Greta Garbo's greatest picture; A romance based on the true life story of the exotic woman spy, Mata Hari. Truly all-star, this production will leave in mind and heart the memory of an unforgettable thrill! (original herald)

In 1917, in Paris, the famous dancer Mata Hari has a double life as a German spy, obtaining secrets from French and Russian officers in bed. The chief of the French Secret Service Dubois is unsuccessfully in her tail trying to find proofs to incriminate Mata Hari. The Russian general Serge Shubin has a crush on Mata Hari, but when she meets the young Russian pilot lieutenant Alexis Rosanoff, she sleeps with him to photograph secret documents in his possession. But they fall in love for each other, and the jealousy of her lover Shubin provides the evidences to Dubois to arrest her



The film was loosely based on the life of Mata Hari (the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle), an exotic dancer/courtesan executed for espionage during World War I. The film stars Greta Garbo in the title role. The film is credited with popularizing the legend of Mata Hari.

Cover of Mata Hari

Commercially, this was Garbo's most successful film and MGM's biggest hit of the year, netting a profit of nearly one million dollars. It was a sensation in the US, and overseas rentals, especially in Continental Europe, matched those in the US. These combined grosses amounted to $2,227,000 or $31,601,862, adjusted for inflation.

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Queen Christina (1933)

Queen Christina of Sweden is a dominant European ruler in the 17th century, and has never thought of romance. However, she accidentally and secretly falls in love with an emissary from Spain, even though a marriage between the two seems out of the question.

Queen Christina is a 1933 American pre-code historical drama film directed by Rouben Mamoulian.[1] The film was written by H. M. Harwood and Salka Viertel with dialogue by S. N. Behrman, based on a story by Salka Viertel and Margaret P. Levino. It stars Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Ian Keith and Lewis Stone.

The movie is very loosely based on the life of the 17th century Queen Christina of Sweden, who, in the film, falls in love during her reign but has to deal with the political realities of her society. It was billed as Garbo's return to cinema after an eighteen-month hiatus.

Watch Movie Classic - Queen Christina

Queen Christina of Sweden (Greta Garbo) is very devoted to her country and the welfare of her people. As Queen, Christina favours peace for Sweden. At one point in the film she argues for an end to the Thirty Years' War, saying:

"Spoils, glory, flags and trumpets! What is behind these high-sounding words? Death and destruction, triumphals of crippled men, Sweden victorious in a ravaged Europe, an island in a dead sea. I tell you, I want no more of it. I want for my people security and happiness. I want to cultivate the arts of peace, the arts of life. I want peace and peace I will have!"

Christina, who first took the throne at age 6 upon the death of her father in battle, is depicted as so devoted to both governing well and educating herself that she has spurned any kind of serious romance or marriage despite pressures from her councillors and court to marry her hero-cousin Karl (Charles) and produce an heir. One day in an effort to escape the restrictions of her royal life, she rides away, disguised as a man, and is snowbound at an inn. There she meets and falls in love with Spanish envoy Antonio (John Gilbert). After a few idyllic nights together, Christina and Antonio are compelled to part, but the Queen vows that they will meet again – which they do, when the Spaniard presents his embassy to the Queen.

When Count Magnus (Ian Keith), who wants the Queen's affections for his own, riles up the Swedish people against the Spaniard, Christina abdicates the throne. She leaves Sweden to be with Don Antonio, but he is wounded by Magnus in a duel, and dies in her arms. She resolves to proceed with her voyage to Spain where she envisions residing in Antonio's home on the white cliffs overlooking the sea. And, in arguably the most famous shot of the film, Christina then stands as a silent figurehead at the bow of the ship bound for Spain. With the wind blowing through her hair, the camera moves in to a tight close-up on her face, warmed by love, her

• Greta Garbo as Queen Christina
• John Gilbert as Antonio
• Ian Keith as Magnus
• Lewis Stone as Oxenstierna
• Elizabeth Young as Countess Ebba Sparre
• C. Aubrey Smith as Aage
• Reginald Owen as Charles
• Georges Renavent as Chanut
• David Torrence as Archbishop
• Gustav von Seyffertitz as General
• Ferdinand Munier as Innkeeper
• Akim Tamiroff as Pedro (uncredited)

Links;
IMDB  Wikipedia

Camille

1936 Silverscreen Classic, Starring Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor

A Parisian courtesan must choose between the young man who loves her and the callous baron who wants her, even as her own health begins to fail

Camille is a 1936 American romantic drama film directed by George Cukor and produced by Irving Thalberg and Bernard H. Hyman, from a screenplay by James Hilton, Zoe Akins and Frances Marion.[2] The picture is based on the 1852 novel and play La Dame aux Came'lias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The film stars Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Jessie Ralph, Henry Daniell, and Laura Hope Crews. It grossed $2,842,000.

The film inspired Milton Benjamin to write and publish a song called "I'll Love Like Robert Taylor, Be My Greta Garbo." Camille was included in Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Movies in 2005.
It was also included at #33 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions. Portions of the film, including the final scene, are featured in the 1982 musical film Annie after the number "Let's Go To The Movies."

     


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The films tells of Marguerite Gauthier (Greta Garbo). She's born into a lower class family, but in time becomes the well known Dame Camille living in high society in Paris.

Camille's finances are covered by the wealthy Baron de Varville (Henry Daniell), but after many years of making money from her looks Camille falls in love with Armand (Robert Taylor), a handsome young man.

Armand is attracted to Camille and she's prepared to give up the Baron and be with Armand.

However, Armand's father (Lionel Barrymore) begs Camille to turn away from his son, knowing her past will ruin his future in Paris.

Realizing the painful wisdom of his advice, Camille rejects Armand, who continues to pursue her even as Camille contracts a serious case of tuberculosis.

Cast;

• Greta Garbo as Marguerite Gautier
• Robert Taylor as Armand Duval
• Lionel Barrymore as Monsieur Duval
• Elizabeth Allan as Nichette, the Bride
• Jessie Ralph as Nanine, Marguerite's Maid
• Henry Daniell as Baron de Varville
• Lenore Ulric as Olympe
• Laura Hope Crews as Prudence Duvernoy
• Rex O'Malley as Gaston
• Mariska Aldrich as Friend of Camille
• Wilson Benge as Attendant

Links;
Wikipedia
IMDB

Conquest - Greta Garbo (1937)

Greta Garbo stars in Conquest (1937)

Conquest (also called Marie Walewska) is a 1937 film which tells the story of the Polish Countess Marie Walewska, who becomes the mistress of Napoleon in order to influence his actions towards her homeland. It stars Greta Garbo, Charles Boyer, Reginald Owen, Alan Marshal, Henry Stephenson, Leif Erickson, Dame May Whitty, George Zucco, and Maria Ouspenskaya.

 

Plot Synopsis
After a brief informal meeting two months earlier when they were impressed with each other, Countess Marie Walewska (Garbo) formally meets Napoleon Bonaparte (Boyer) at a ball in Warsaw. When Napoleon notes her husband, Count Walewski (Stephenson), is three times her age, and as he is taken with her charms, he unsuccessfully tries to seduce her. She ignores his frequent letters and flowers until a few grim Polish leaders led by Senator Malachowski (Zucco) urge her to give into his desires as a personal sacrifice in order to save Poland. She goes to him despite the humiliation of her husband, who leaves for Rome to annul their marriage. They are extremely happy for a while; Napoleon divorces childless Empress Josephine and Marie eventually becomes pregnant. She is about to tell Napoleon about her baby when he tells her he decided to marry Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. He explains it will be a political marriage to insure his future son could rule securely with Habsburg blood in him. It will not affect their relationship, he says, but Marie Walewska leaves to have her baby alone without telling Napoleon she is expecting his child.

The movie was adapted by S. N. Behrman, Samuel Hoffenstein, Helen Jerome and Salka Viertel from the novel Pani Walewska by Waclaw Gasiorowski. It was directed by Clarence Brown and Gustav Machatý
It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charles Boyer) and Best Art Direction

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This movie was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's biggest money losing movie prior to 1949. Its worldwide gross amounted to $2,141,000. But its massive budget led to a loss of $1,397,000.

Cast;

• Greta Garbo as Countess Marie Walewska
• Charles Boyer as Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
• Reginald Owen as Tallyrand
• Alan Marshal as Captain d'Ornano
• Henry Stephenson as Count Anastas Walewski
• Leif Erickson as Paul Lachinski (as Leif Erikson)
• Dame May Whitty as Laetitia Bonaparte
• Maria Ouspenskaya as Countess Pelagia Walewska

Wikipedia Link

Ninotchka - Greta Garbo

1939 Silverscreen Movie Classic with Greta Garbo

Ninotchka
Soviet emissaries Buljanoff, Iranoff, and Kopalski no sooner arrive in Paris to sell some jewelry for the government, than soft capitalist ways begin to corrupt them. Grand Duchess Swana, former owner of the jewels but now exiled in Paris, sends her very good friend, playboy Leon d'Algout, to interfere with the sale. When sly Leon meets stern Comrade Nina Ivanovna, sent to take over from the hapless emissaries, east-west romance results; but major complications intervene

Ninotchka is a 1939 American film made for Metro Goldwyn Mayer by producer and director Ernst Lubitsch which stars Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It was written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, based on a screen story by Melchior Lengyel. Ninotchka is Greta Garbo's first full comedy, and her penultimate film. It is one of the first American movies which, under cover of humorous light romance, deliberately criticizes the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.

It depicts the Soviet system as rigid and gray, comparing it to the free and sunny Parisian society. The persona of the title character may have been based on that of the female Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai, a Soviet diplomat with unconventional views on sexuality that are echoed in one scene of the film

Watch Movie - Ninotchka

Cast;

• Greta Garbo as Nina Ivanovna Yakushova, aka Ninotchka
• Melvyn Douglas as Count Léon d'Algout
• Ina Claire as Grand Duchess Swana
• Sig Ruman as Iranoff
• Felix Bressart as Buljanoff
• Alexander Granach as Kopalski
• Bela Lugosi as Commissar Razinin
• Tamara Shayne as Anna
• Rolfe Sedan as Hotel Manager
• Gregory Gaye as Rakonin
• Edwin Maxwell as Mercier
• Richard Carle as Gaston

Links;
Wikipedia link
IMDB