Ninotchka: Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire, Bela Lugosi, Sig Ruman, Felix Bressart, Alexander Granach, Gregory Gaye, Rolfe Sedan, Edwin Maxwell, Richard Carle, Dorothy Adams, William H. Daniels, Ernst Lubitsch, Sidney Franklin, Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, Melchior Lengyel, Walter Reisch: Amazon.ca: Video

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Ah, those fun-loving Communists! In Ninotchka three Soviets make their way to Paris to sell off imperial jewels to raise money to buy tractors for the USSR. When Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire), former owner of the jewels, discovers what's happening, she deploys her lover Leon (Melvyn Douglas) to recover her gems. He starts a court proceeding while seducing the three bumbling Soviets with the luxuries of capitalistic life. The delay of the sale is noticed in Moscow, and Comrade Ninotchka (Greta Garbo) is dispatched to Paris to settle the matter. Soon after arrival, she meets Leon, who is charmed by her severe, uptight manner and her stunning beauty ("I love Russians! Comrade, I've been fascinated by your five-year plan for the last 15 years"), and he sets about wooing her, despite her disbelief in love (it's merely a "chemical reaction," she dourly informs him). Romance, jealousy, and capitalistic frivolity ensue.

When this film was released in 1939, it was advertised as "Garbo laughs," as it was her first and only comedy. The film, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, is amusing not only for its story line, but also for its dated look at early Communism (Ninotchka keeps a photo of a stern-looking Lenin by her bedside, although she feels uncomfortable doing so in a room that costs 2,000 francs a night, the price of a cow back home). The satirical image of the young Communist fighting against corrupt Western ways seems somewhat idealistic today but nonetheless provided levity during the shaky political times of the film's release. Viewers may be jarred by the casual "Heil Hitler" greeting of a couple at the train station, but overall this film holds up as one of Lubitsch's masterpieces and a lighter glimpse of the mysterious Garbo. --Jenny Brown

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15 Reviews

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4.6 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY!, Jan 2 2009

By

B. C. Whitcomb "WTF?!" (Mad Cow, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ninotchka (DVD)

What can be said of Garbo? Saying it again is not enough. In Ninotchka, Garbo portrays the steely-faced Ninotchka, stern functionary of Stalinist Russia. See comes to Paris to correct trade commissioners who have over-stepped their bounds. Over the course of her stay, she discovers the "City of Light", a life of laughter and love, and a desire to wear the silliest hat imaginable. Garbo begins by playing straight man to Melvyn Douglas' playboy. Their scenes together are loaded with rapid fire dialogue and brilliant jousting. And when Garbo, drunk on champagne, gets silly, Douglas and her play it up with some classic sight gags. An excellent classic movie in every respect.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Garbo's great comedic role, May 5 2004

By

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Ninotchka (VHS Tape)

Yet another yummy Ernst Lubitsch comedy, this time starring the often-dour Greta Garbo as a humorless Soviet agent who is seduced by Western materialism (and a dashing, jovial Melvyn Douglas) while on a mission in Paris. Some may find the film's political aspects to be dated -- but hey, that's totally the point! Lubitsch manages to lampoon both Stalin-era communism and the American stereotypes of the French (as libertine sensualists) all at one time... And while the Soviet state is roundly mocked, the plight of its people is not, so that Garbo's character is given her dignity and honor... as well as some swell close-ups and nice clothes! The best part of this film is her transformation from a robotic, literal-minded Party functionary into a fully-rounded human being... The scene in which Douglas tries to crack Ninotchka's icy facade, telling jokes and acting up in order to provoke a laugh or a smile, while she rebuffs his every overture in a clipped, chilly monotone, is one of Garbo's best performances, and a brilliant comedic stroke for Lubitsch. In effect, the manic, wisecracking Douglas is turned into a straight man for Garbo, whose minimalistic delivery controls the scene, in an almost Steven Wright-like manner. And, of course, the rest of the film is a delight as well. A fascinating, frivolous look at prewar European politics, and a real humdinger of a screwball comedy, with a clever, snappy script co-written by Billy Wilder. What's not to enjoy, comrade?

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5.0 out of 5 stars Madame , this is a restaurant not a medow!, Oct 27 2003

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the wizard of uz (Studio City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ninotchka (VHS Tape)

So says the Parisian waiter to the stern Ninotchka (Greta Garbo) as she orders a plate of---well I guess it could pass for nouvelle cuisine in California today.

Meanwhile Count Leon (Melvyn Douglas) smitten hopelessly with 'my beautiful, barbaric Ninotchka' attempts to convince her that he dines at this 'worker's proleteriat' restaurant every day, and worse, tries to make her lsugh by telling her a lame joke about two Scotsmen. Am I getting to complicated? No matter, this scene, like every other scene in this film, is funny, witty, urbane and has a wonderfull pay-off at the end.
NINOTCHKA is THE archetype of the romantic screwball comedies.

The best.--and Garbo's only comedy.

Lubitsch's masterpiece (I'd give 'To Be or not To Be' a close second place) is delicious fun all the way through.

Greta Garbo spoofs communism, French sophisticates, the eternal war of the sexes, but most of all, she spoofs the screen personna of Greta Garbo.

One can tell that she had a blast playing counter to type--no melodramatic semitragic heroines here, it's pure wit and laughs. A fast and crazy ride, as the idealistic Ninotchka falls in love.

Among the writing credits you might notice a recent emigre to America: Billy Wilder.

See it with someone you love. And if you start to get carried away, 'Suppress it'

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5.0 out of 5 stars "Not radio. Let's have music that's just for ourselves."
Ninotchka is a funny, well-written film with a good dash of romance showcasing Greta Garbo's beautiful, expressive eyes. Read more

Published on May 17 2003 by rballjones