Anna Christie (1930)

"Gimme a whiskey"

The first film talked about Greta Garbo. At first wanted to see this film in history (a prostitute marked for life, as in Susan Lenox), but I was impressed by the simple and beautiful it can be, by the images and script, in addition to knowing that the German version is a favorite Garbo that makes me even more respect. The German version is really beautiful, from the costumes, makeup until more decadent (dark circles and pallor on the face), making it more charming image of Garbo. I am delighted with this acquisition, as well as that of caratulas dvd of this collection is magnificent as it retains the style of old posters as artistic by the way they were made. The DVD is read by the two layers, but the German version only comes with English subtitles. I adore Greta Garbo.


Spanish:

El primer film hablado de Greta Garbo. Al principio queria ver esta pelicula por la historia (una prostituta marcada por la vida, como en Susan Lenox), pero me ha impresionado lo sencilla y bonita que puede llegar a ser, por las imagenes y el guión, además que el hecho de saber que la versión alemana es la favorita de Garbo eso me hace respetarla aún más. La versión Alemana es realmente bella, desde el vestuario, hasta el maquillaje mas decadente (ojeras y palidez en el rostro), lo que hace mas encantadora la imagen de la Garbo. Estoy encantado con esta compra, además de que las caratulas de los dvd de esta colección es magnifica ya que conserva el estilo de los afiches antiguos tan artísticos por la forma en que fueron hechos. El DVD se lee por las dos capas, pero en la versión alemana, solo viene con subtitulos en inglés. Adoro a Greta garbo. August 27, 2008

Anna Christie

The film is an excellent rendition of a fine Eugene O'Neill play made into a movie. Garbo is superb. Of note, the "package" is two films, one in German, one in English. This is a must see for Eugene O'Neill fans as well as film buffs. March 11, 2008

Garbo speaks....and speaks.......and speaks!

"Anna Christie" is most famous as the film which released Greta Garbo from the silent era, the last major star to make the transition. The marketing of the film ensured that this was a major cinematic event and the film was a box office smash but it does not really stand the test of time.

Based on a depressing Eugene O'Neill play, this is an unusual piece for Garbo because she plays a contemporary figure surrounded by 3 character actors in demanding parts. She suffers by comparison. George Marion as her father and Marie Dressler as the mistress create incredibly real people. The scenes with Dressler are wonderful; Garbo, the mistress of underacting, with Dressler, the mistress of overacting, and meeting in the middle with genuine rapport. Charles Bickford as the boorish Irish lover is good too but he has no charisma, no screen magnetism. It is just not convincing that Garbo could fall for him.

The film has endless talk, little action, a static camera and a soundtrack which is often hard to understand. Garbo's unease with the Amercian slang is obvious with some of her line readings emphasing the wrong words. The story has a poor ending, flicking from hysteria to rationalisation in the flick of an eye and with what has gone on before, it is easy to speculate that this motley group have got lots of bad times ahead.

The print of the film is surprisingly good and far superior to other Garbo DVDs of later talkies. The DVD comes with the German version of the film too. This version is shorter and darker. Garbo looks more seedy and it is obvious that she is more comfortable with the German language.

The DVD is best purchased as part of one of the Garbo collections because only then will you obtain any extras which will tell you more about the star and the film. July 6, 2007

"Garbo talks." In essence, a Eugene O'Neil play.

This film is the great Eugene O'Neil in all his dark glory. Moody, dark, slow-paced, and bearing his intense psychology, it is not a film for all audiences or tastes. In addition to the great Garbo, is a magnificent perfomance by the silent film legend Marie Dressler. Before her death, she would make 3 classics with Wallace Beery, one of which was FDR's favorite film of all time: "Tugboat Annie." Her banter with Jean Harlow in "Dinner at Eight," was peerless and hysterical.
This film is a one of those "transition" pieces from the silent to the talking era, and as such, carries aspects of both periods.
Well worth seeing and having in one's collection.
May 25, 2007

o'neill was never better served on screen

garbo in her first talkie is marvelous in this adaptation of eugene o'neills pulitzer winning play, as a whore trying to reform. marie dressler is brilliant in a supporting performance as a washed-out drunk, and everyone else is letter-perfect. now the caveat: the technical shortcomings of early talkies are replete here, so you should stay away if stuff like that is what concerns you. as an added attraction, the dvd also includes the simultaneously filmed german language version of the movie with a different (save for garbo, of course) cast: quite a bit darker, tho not (for me) as accessible. and of course one can never forget the magic of hearing gg utter: "Gif me a visky, ginger ale on the side, and don' be stingy, baby." March 25, 2007

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