Despite a rather dour persona, the ravishing Greta Garbo possesses a radiance that overcomes her tragic circumstances in this romantic melodrama. Garbo is a Dietrich like cabaret singer possessed by a tyrannical novelist (Erich Von Stroheim) whom she must get drunk to constantly avoid. Garbo is being followed around by the painter friend of a count (Melvyn Douglas) who believes she is the long-missing wife and wants to reunite her with her still grieving husband. But while Garbo agrees to run off from Von Stroheim to meet Douglas, she still is not sure if this is true, having no recollection of her sister (Hedda Hopper!!!) or devoted companion (Rafaela Ottiano). But evil Von Stroheim won't give up his control over her and presents Douglas with a veiled woman he claims is the real countess.
In spite of these auspicious circumstances, Garbo is totally alive, passionate and ready for the truth. In her bleached blonde Dietrich like persona, she is never actually seen singing. That hairstyle reminded me of the dye job of Kay Francis in the later tearjerker "Confession". Once away from the evil Von Stroheim, Garbo returns to her natural shade, resembling the portrait Douglas still has up on his wall of the real countess. Von Stroheim gives one of his most compelling performances in what could have been a one dimensional role, and tones down his sometimes hammy acting. The scene where he confronts Garbo with three admirers and slowly increases in temper, finally kicking them out, is stunning. Douglas does the best he can with a role that on first glance appears to be one dimensionally noble but his character's spirit grows as the threat of loosing Garbo increases. Hopper seems the oddest choice to play Garbo's sister, while Rafaela Ottiano (basically portraying the same role she played in "Grand Hotel") makes the most out of a tiny part.
The plethora of emotions make "As You Desire Me" a delightful and glossy romantic drama. While most of Garbo's films featured the artistic touch of either George Cukor or Clarence Brown in the director's chair, George Archainbaud does a fine job here. Sweetly short (71 minutes), "As You Desire Me" may not represent the obviously longer Broadway play (which starred Judith Anderson), but it remains an opulent reminded of what Hollywood was doing in the pre-code depression years of the early sound era.
In spite of these auspicious circumstances, Garbo is totally alive, passionate and ready for the truth. In her bleached blonde Dietrich like persona, she is never actually seen singing. That hairstyle reminded me of the dye job of Kay Francis in the later tearjerker "Confession". Once away from the evil Von Stroheim, Garbo returns to her natural shade, resembling the portrait Douglas still has up on his wall of the real countess. Von Stroheim gives one of his most compelling performances in what could have been a one dimensional role, and tones down his sometimes hammy acting. The scene where he confronts Garbo with three admirers and slowly increases in temper, finally kicking them out, is stunning. Douglas does the best he can with a role that on first glance appears to be one dimensionally noble but his character's spirit grows as the threat of loosing Garbo increases. Hopper seems the oddest choice to play Garbo's sister, while Rafaela Ottiano (basically portraying the same role she played in "Grand Hotel") makes the most out of a tiny part.
The plethora of emotions make "As You Desire Me" a delightful and glossy romantic drama. While most of Garbo's films featured the artistic touch of either George Cukor or Clarence Brown in the director's chair, George Archainbaud does a fine job here. Sweetly short (71 minutes), "As You Desire Me" may not represent the obviously longer Broadway play (which starred Judith Anderson), but it remains an opulent reminded of what Hollywood was doing in the pre-code depression years of the early sound era.