Ninotchka (VHS, 1990)

When the first trailers for one of Greta Garbo's most celebrated films came out they advertised, "Garbo Laughs!" That's not quite true, however; since Garbo was too restrained to act drunk in what she felt was a public setting. The 'so called' laugh is actually dubbed, since Garbo didn't. And rightly so. if she stayed in character, as Garbo is known for doing brilliantly well, the communist official she plays wouldn't have broken her ice.

The Leading Lady character that Garbo plays is a dead-pan, politically hilarious (if you know your 'Soviet Union' 'cold war', or Russian communist, history well enough), stoic, communist Soviet officer. Imagine that....

While she's in Paris, France tending to important communist official business,
Garbo is recanting priceless Soviet history in one-liners that will have critics of communist propaganda rolling in the floor laughing. Garbo's character is attacking communist propaganda and practices by being the very personification of them! Mel Brooks could have come up with this type of script. But, I can't imagine anyone but Garbo pulling off dead-pan comedy with such absolute stoicism. Her performance makes "Ninotchka" a high political farce.

Other critiquers would have us believe that Garbo's character "eventually succumbs" to the romantic luxuries and individual freedoms of 1930's Paris. However, I don't view it that way. Even though Melvyn Douglas' French suitor's character, Count Leon d'Algout, relentlessly strives to break through the communist propagandist's rigidity, the best he can do is get her drunk.

Although MGM's original setting for "Ninotchka" was intended to be in Russia, by the time the cameras were ready to role, the living conditions created by communist pillaging were so devastating that the scenes were shot in France, instead.

Because of "Ninotchka's" numerous direct political slams against the Soviet Union's communism, it was censored for being viewed a scandalous political attack by the American film industry. It wasn't until the mid-50's that the Soviet communists stopped pressuring theaters from showing the film.

"Ninotchka's" 3 of 4 Oscar nominations were for Greta Garbo as Best Actress, (Anne Bancroft took home the golden statuette once Joan Crawford let her have it!), Best Original Story, and without a doubt, Best Picture.

Owning the original VHS is the thing to do if adding to a history of antique great films collection.