Flesh and the Devil (1926)

A bulky, verbose novel by Herman Suderman was the source for the exquisitely silent Flesh and the Devil. On leave from the Austrian army, lifelong friends John Gilbert and Lars Hanson return to their loving families. At a reception in Hanson's honor, Gilbert makes the acquaintance of the hauntingly beautiful Greta Garbo, whom he'd previously glimpsed for a few fleeting seconds at the railway depot. Those few seconds were enough to thoroughly captivate Gilbert, thus paving the way for a feverish sexual liaison with Garbo. Gilbert is shocked to discover that Garbo is married to aristocrat Marc MacDermott, who challenges Gilbert to a duelon the proviso that the "official" reason for their argument is a disagreement at cards, so that McDermott will suffer no disgrace. Gilbert kills the husband on the field of honor; as punishment for his unmilitary conduct, he is "invited" to accept a post in Africa. Honoring his promise to the late McDermott, Gilbert reveals his love of Garbo to no one, not even his dearest friend Hanson. As he departs for his five-year exile, Gilbert asks Hanson to look after the "bereaved" Garbo. Pardoned after three years, Gilbert returns home, only to discover that Garbo has remarriedto Hanson. Minister George Fawcett, evidently the only person to know of Gilbert's tryst with Garbo, advises Gilbert to give up his friendship with Hanson so as to avoid the temptation of cuckolding his best friend. But when Hanson falls seriously ill, Garbo begs Gilbert to renew the friendship. He does so, not suspecting that Garbo merely wants to trap him in her web again. Gilbert is caught in a compromising position by the distraught Hanson; he regretfully challenges Gilbert to a duel, to be fought on their favorite childhood playing site, "The Island of Friendship". As Hanson nervously aims his weapon at the repentant, unresisting Gilbert, he realizes that he can't go through with the duel. Product Description

"So that you may not forget me."

This beautiful story of fallen love from director Clarence Brown is given a romantic glow seldom seen in sound pictures. Garbo's magic, only occasionally seen in her sound films, is gloriously displayed here by photographer William Daniels. John Gilbert's charisma is also shown to great advantage, giving those who never saw him an explanation for his huge popularity during the silent era.

There is more story than usual is this lush and romantically told tale of forbidden love that just won't die and the long friendship it threatens. Based on Hermann Sudermann's novel, "The Undying Past," Benjamin F. Glazer's screenplay doesn't really seem that dated even today. The settings arranged by Cedric Gibbons and Frederic Hope make this fabulous production from MGM one of Garbo's finest films.

Leo von Harden (John Gilbert) and Ulrich (Lars Hanson) are military men whose bond runs deep and far, all the way back to childhood when they became blood-brothers in the presence of Ulrich's little sister Hertha (Barbara Kent) on the "Isle of Friendship." When as young men they return home, Leo sees for the first time the woman who will perhaps destroy not only that friendship, but Leo himself.

Garbo is the image of romance stepping off the train in her first screen moments. It is not long after at a ball that the two meet again, the white rose exchanged at their first meeting in hand. The scenes that follow are some of the most romantic in screen history. William Daniels frames Garbo's Felicitas in matchlight and moonlight beneath an arbor as one of the most romantic build-ups to a screen kiss takes place.

The shots of Garbo and Gilbert that follow are justly legendary. Though fully clothed, there is an oozing afterglow of implied intimacy that can almost be felt by the viewer. The scenes are filled with romance which takes a sudden and dark turn when the husband Felicity did not inform Leo of finds them together. A duel incurs in which Leo prevails, but only the Pastor knows the real reason for the tragedy.

Garbo's scenes picking out the right veil to mourn in shows the viewer all that Leo can not see with his eyes. He will have to spend five lonely years in Africa before he can return to her so they may be together. He implores his friend for life, Ulrich, to watch after her until he returns. He will not realize what a mistake it was until he returns and finds the two married, Ulrich being unaware of their prior love, and unable to resist her charms.

Barbara Kent is terrific as the grown Hertha, whose crush on Leo as a child has turned into an abiding love ignored by a brooding Leo. Felicitas begs him to reconcile with his friend but her motives are not pure like the white rose and soon temptation will overcome them. What follows cannot be revealed to the viewer but you will not see the ending of this romantic drama coming in any way.

Garbo and Gilbert were actually in love here, and it comes across in every scene. It is ironic that the haze of Garbo's spell cast over Gilbert in real life would destroy him nearly to the same degree as Mayer did when sound came along. This is a beautiful and romantic film with a lush and lovely glow you will not find anywhere else. Watch Garbo and Gilbert by firelight some rainy night with someone you love. It is an unforgettable film experience. August 20, 2008

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