Ninotchka
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Written by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, and Walter Reisch based on a story by Melchior Lengyel
1938/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Repeat viewing/ Netflix rental
#136 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Ninotchka: Why should you carry other people’s bags?
Porter: Well, that’s my business.
Madame. Ninotchka: That’s no business. That’s social injustice.
Porter: That depends on the tip.[/box]
As might be expected from its pedigree, this is a movie filled with great one-liners and the Lubitsch touch.
Three bumbling Soviet Trade Commission officials are in Paris seeking to sell the fabulous diamond jewelry confiscated from Countess Swana. They can hardly wait to check themselves into the Royal Suite of the fanciest hotel in town and start living the high life. Swana, who now lives in Paris, finds out about their mission and sends Leon (Melvyn Douglas) to try to recover the jewels or sue if he cannot.
When little progress is made in selling the jewels, the Soviets send no-nonsense Ninotchka (Greta Garbo) to check up on the boys. At first she seems ideally suited for the job. Then she meets Leon and all bets are off.
I really enjoyed this. I’ve always liked the guys that could make me laugh so I understand Ninotchka completely. I’m still not completely sold on Garbo as an actress or a comedienne but the banter is so good that it didn’t matter much.
Ninotchka received four Academy Award nominations, those for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Original Story, and Best Screenplay.
Trailer
Recently, I re-watched NINOTCHKA. It only glows more brightly with age.
Garbo was always best when she was tough and stern. I think that is why it works so well when she is the tough as nails apperatnic. It is when she softens up that she looses the edge. I liked the three clowns as well. They are hilarious.
I thought Felix Bessart was the funniest of the clowns. I love him in The Shop Around the Corner as well.
I am on the fence about this film. First, I find Melvyn Douglas an odd match with Garbo. Second, I don’t think comedy is Garbo’s forte. Granted, there are some great lines in this film and the supporting cast is great……but I’m not sure how much I like it overall.
For some reason, I enjoyed Ninotchka much more on this viewing than on my earlier watch.
I liked Ninotchka. I also evidently like Garbo a bit more than you do, but I suppose I get your reticence. I think she’s more entertaining in the first half of the film when she’s stone-faced and serious. She’s actually a pretty good (forgive the term) straight man. I like her in the rest of the film, too, but once she laughs, she’s not nearly as funny.
I’m not sure what it is about Garbo versus other movie stars. I just have a hard time suspending my disbelief and getting on the same wave length with her characters. I agree she was pretty funny in the super-serious “good bolshevik” scenes.