MCMXXXIX XL: Ninotchka

Ninotchka. Ernst Lubitsch. 1939.

This is most amusing. It’s an American fantasia of robotic Soviet women and naive Soviet men, and Garbo sells it.

Ah!

Billy Wilder. I should have guessed.

Fashion is hard.

This is very charming indeed. My main problem with the movie is the Count — the steps the Grand Duchess are taking to keep him from going off with Garbo are… they make no sense. Melvyn Douglas isn’t really a great catch now is he?

But it really is a lovely movie. Garbo is just perfect, of course, but there’s so many good performances. The three Soviet goofs are fantastic, and it’s perfectly paced.

Bela Lugosi!

This blog post is part of the 1939
series
.

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