Tuesday, February 14, 2012

129. Ninotchka

Ninotchka
1939
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

Okay, so I am feeling a bit better about being alone on Valentine's Day because I have a huge chocolate bar next to me and I have Greta Garbo.  What more could a lady want?


So, as you can see, Garbo is laughing!  I told my one friend that I was actually going to watch a Garbo comedy and she was like "that's weird?".  But we 1001ers know that it is indeed weird to see Greta in a romantic comedy.  It would be like...wow, I cannot think of purely serious modern actor.  Any suggestions?  Maybe it would be like Anthony Hopkins starring in a Katherine Heigl movie.  Does that work?


Maybe by the third paragraph I can make a point.  Garbo isn't exactly doing schtick but she does have a lighter screen presence than normal.  This film is about a stern woman who comes to Paris to arrange the sale of some jewels but finds love instead.  How nice (*scowls*).  Anyway, the secondary characters are the real funny guys.  The film is also a bit of a comment on the materialism of Paris and western society for that matter.  Not laugh out loud funny but worth a watch.

RATING: ****-



Interesting Facts:


The slogan "Garbo laughs!" came before the film was even fully developed and written.


Banned in the Soviet Union.


This director also did Trouble in Paradise and The Shop Around the Corner, both of which I loved.

Trailer:


5 comments:

  1. I love that Garbo laughing was such a big deal. And did you see the tagline: "Don't pronounce it- watch it!" LOL

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  2. But she is funny as hardline communist. Hilarious laugh out loud funny. When she does crack up she is reduced to ordinary, but first half gets top marks from me.

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  3. Haha I didn't see that tagline. I miss Garbo.

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  4. Another deserved dip into the vaults. Thanks rachel, I too had missed the tag line, good one, thanks for pointing it out.
    I'm not a great garbo fan, all that aloof, superior, 'but I'm really deep as well as deeply depressed' stuff .. well I can see the aim, but it's far to far overplayed in .. just about most of her early stuff. But, yes, I guess this was a treat. And I did like the fact that superficially it was a dig at the Soviet Union, but with clever side swipes at the east at the same time. Amanda, I won't miss Garbo, but as a friendly compromise, how about I try and remember her for this on, thus giving a good final impression?

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  5. I have pretty much only been exposed to Garbo through the Book, so I really didn't have time to get sick of her. I am pleased you liked this one too!

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