This is not a great film, but it is worth watching for the coupling of Garbo and Gable. They really make the film. Gretta Garbo always steals focus in any film she is in because she is gorgeous and the camera loves her face. She can just sit still and it would still work. But, when paired with Clark Gable, she has a challenger to the camera's focus. He is dynamic and the camera loves him too. I found myself wishing there were only scenes of the two of them together.
As far as the plot, I would say this film is more about "her fall and rise" and then fall and then rise and then fall again and, by the end, she only rises a bit.
Garbo's mother dies in child birth and she is raised by her uncle who treats her as a servant. When the uncle arranges a marriage with an older man, Garbo runs away and into Gable's care.
Garbo keeps evading her uncle who is trying to find her. She ends up hiding in a traveling circus. This seems very odd at first but the film makes it work out. Cecil Cunningham as Madame Panoramia (or Pansy) is delightful as the tattooed lady that takes Garbo under her wing and gives her the name of "Susan Lenox".
But Garbo keeps getting abused and lusted after by men everywhere she goes. By the time Gable catches up with her, she is now "used goods".
The ending I will leave for you to see for yourself.
As I said, the film is not great, but Garbo and Gable are the gems in this very rough diamond!
As far as the plot, I would say this film is more about "her fall and rise" and then fall and then rise and then fall again and, by the end, she only rises a bit.
Garbo's mother dies in child birth and she is raised by her uncle who treats her as a servant. When the uncle arranges a marriage with an older man, Garbo runs away and into Gable's care.
Garbo keeps evading her uncle who is trying to find her. She ends up hiding in a traveling circus. This seems very odd at first but the film makes it work out. Cecil Cunningham as Madame Panoramia (or Pansy) is delightful as the tattooed lady that takes Garbo under her wing and gives her the name of "Susan Lenox".
But Garbo keeps getting abused and lusted after by men everywhere she goes. By the time Gable catches up with her, she is now "used goods".
The ending I will leave for you to see for yourself.
As I said, the film is not great, but Garbo and Gable are the gems in this very rough diamond!