Cheap Anna Christie (Video) (Greta Garbo, Charles Bickford) (Clarence Brown) Price

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Customer Reviews of Anna Christie

A GARBO MILESTONE.
The once highly esteemed script-writer, Frances Marion, faithfully followed the text of the famous Eugene O'Neil play which starred Blanche Sweet on Broadway in the early twenties. Bette Davis, who was a devout "Garbomaniac" (as Garbo fans were called in the thirties), once stated about Garbo's acting: "What Garbo did on the screen was sheer witchcraft... I cannot analyze this woman's acting". In her first sound film, after what seems an eternity, Garbo finally comes into view, weary and cynical, she says to the bartender: "Gif me a viskey - chinger ale on the side. And don't be stingy, baby!". Her voice was blissfully right on target! This 1930 antique is very talky and reminds one of a silent movie with dialogue. If it were not so well-acted, it would be very tiresome indeed. Garbo's voice was noted as being in strange and beautiful accord with the Garbo personality of the silent pictures. Garbo had, more than than any other actress on the screen in the early thirties, the ability to emit the power of suggestion, and, in infinite degrees, expose the isolated mysteriousness of the human soul. Charles Bickford does quite well as the Irish seaman, and as the the old waterfront hag, Marthy Owens, Marie Dressler put an infinite amount of detail in her excellent (albeit a bit hammy) characterization; Garbo was so impressed by Dressler's performance that she personally brought a bouquet of chrysanthemums to Dressler's home in appreciation. On both the stage and screen, George Marion seemed destined to be old Chris; his remarks about "Dat old davil sea" has made audiences laugh for over 70 years.

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German with English subtitles version is better!
Of the two versions I saw, I preferred the German version with English subtitles. Garbo's performance as well as that of the supporting cast was more inspired. I will keep looking for that version before I buy!

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Much more than 'Garbo Talks!'
Eugene O'Neill's play was here adapted to the silver screen, and to Garbo. The plot is dated, and this being 1930 the sound's quality is not entirely mastered. But there are the characters, the actors, the gloom and doom of early Depression. And, of course, this also very much Garbo's film. Unlike many past(and following) roles she's no femme fatale here. Anna's character is the strongest in the film, not so much dominating the males (boyfriend, father) but being manlier more mature and more independent than either will ever be. She might survive without them. It's doubtful if they could have achieved the same.

And that's pretty much where Garbo stands in relation to this film. She's the one that breathes life into it, and whenever she's off camera only Marie Dressler's drunken-lucid banter keep the interest. Still, undoubtedly a classic. Minus Garbo this would be a 3 stars...