Ninotchka (1939)
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Ninotchka Movie Review
Ninotchka is a 1939 romantic comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. It’s one of the best romantic comedies of all time.
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“We don’t have men like you in my country.
Thank you.
That is why I believe in the future of my country“
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A stern Russian woman sent to Paris on official business finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest. This is one of the first American films that openly dealt with the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. The film is particularly amusing in making fun of the Russian seriousness, sternness and patriotism, but the comedic highlight has to be the treatment of their extreme censorship, which produced a hilarious ending.
The main reason why this movie works so wildly, however, lies in its lightweight tone and its heart. Like all Lubitsch outings, this one is as breezy as a wind and as sweet as chocolate. The movie has so much heart that I cannot think of any person honestly not simply falling in love with it. It’s a perfect example of how a romantic comedy movie can actually work if done right, and this one is so clever in script and dialogue and so humorous that it works in spades.
Let’s talk about our star, Greta Garbo herself. A woman famous for her many melodramatic, theatrical roles, her taking on this highly comedic role was unquestionably a huge risk on her behalf. She managed to prove everyone wrong and deliver not only a one hell of a performance, but what is without any doubt her career’s greatest achievement. Her accent is perfect, her line delivery is outstanding and her smile is a source of immense joy throughout the film.
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She shined so bright here that she definitely stole the show from everybody else, but still others deserve praise as well. Melvyn Douglas is such a suave, charming presence. His flirting is very amusing and this pair’s romance is endlessly charming, sweet and moving. They are an awesome couple and one of the decade’s finest. The Russian comedic trio is also stellar as their dynamics are so much fun and especially their relationship with Ninotchka is super endearing. As for Ina Claire, she is very good in what is the film’s most unpleasant, but important role.
Ninotchka flies by how hugely entertaining it is. Its runtime is perfect for this type of story and every single plot point worked. Let’s list some of my favorites. The ending is immensely moving and sweet, the first meeting of the couple is simply a perfect comedy fodder for both actors, especially Garbo, and their dynamic there is infectious. But of course the greatest scene coming from this movie has to be the scene where Garbo laughed for the first time. The marketing tagline for this movie was “Garbo laughs” and it was simply the perfect campaign that truly delivered with that entire restaurant sequence being flawlessly executed in terms of buildup and timing. I loved every second of it.
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As for the movie’s technical aspects, they are all great. The direction is magnificent and this is undoubtedly Lubitsch’s magnum opus. The editing is superb, the cinematography is very strong and the dialogue is amazing with so many brilliant, hilarious lines through and through. The film manages to be both hugely romantic and wildly amusing, which is exactly what a romantic comedy is supposed to do. It, thus, deserved all of its Oscar nominations and a classic status that still endures to this day.
