Wild Orchids (1929)

Wow! Such a good movie.

Very well executed

How sad is this?

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Two 1929 Garbo features from the same source, in both of which she is supported by Nils Asther, are Wild Orchids and The Single Standard. The first is the better movie and the better print, but both have their magical moments. It's difficult to make an engrossing plot with only three characters, but Willis Goldbeck and company have succeeded where many another scenarist has failed, even though only two of his people (splendidly enacted here by Greta Garbo and Lewis Stone) are what purists would call "rounded characters." The third is straight from stock, but Nils Asther gives his spoiled-rotten Javanese price unexpected depth by playing the villainous seducer with a genuine smile, a heartfelt shrug. One has the impression that he doesn't really care whether he seduces Garbo or not. It's just a game. The movie is stylishly directed by Sidney Franklin who takes full advantage of the many wonderful sets, and beautifully photographed by William Daniels who is pleasingly no slave to consistency. If he wants to vary his lighting in the same set-up from shimmering on Miss Garbo to black-as-pitch on Mr Asther, he does so!

Well, this is an early Garbo, so of course its historically significant. IMDb shows this as "Lanaguage = English"... although, honestly, its a SILENT, with some sound effects and a pre-recorded song added here and there They add in a track of the crowd yelling and waving goodbye as the cruise ship pulls away from the dock. and in several places, they show the actors speaking lines, but we are never shown the cards for what the actor has just said. Was it edited for length, or something?? Garbo, Lewis Stone, and Nils Asther star in a silly little plot where the Prince tries to seduce the wife of his guest. If you do the math, Lewis Stone was 25 years older than Garbo, so the age difference probably explains why, in the story, the Prince is seen as extra attractive, in spite of his cruelty, which Lillie (Garbo) witnessed. Directed by Sidney Franklin, who had a long, prolific career directing and producing. It's important to see Garbo, and Lewis Stone made some great films as well (Grand Hotel !) Catch it on Turner Classics now and then. It's pretty good.

Greta Garbo is great as the neglected wife while Lewis Stone portrays his part of husband too busy with his work to realize he is neglecting his wife. Nils Aster portrays a Javanese Prince who clearly has self control issues. He not only beats his servants but even attempts to seduce Greta Garbo when he realizes she is being neglected by her husband. His repugnant behavior towards her border on attempted rape. The Synchronized Score is pleasing. I especially like the theme song "You Are Like Wild Orchids" which is played and sung several times. The native Javanese song and dance sections however are quite strange and features unpleasant discordant melodies. The removal of that sequence from the film would have improved the picture tremendously.

Superb production values and subtle, clever performances by the three major stars in this film (Greta, Nils, and Lewis) make this silent film absolutely fascinating - and fun - to watch. From the moment Greta's character meets Nils' character in the hallway of the cruise ship, as he viciously strikes his servant, while she appears shocked and disgusted, yet intrigued, the stage is set for a great tug of war of emotions and a battle of wills between the major characters, which keeps the audience mesmerized throughout. If you have only seen Greta in her talkie films from the 1930's then you really have never understood why she became so popular in the first place, or why she was considered a great beauty. Her mystery and allure on film began in the silent era of the 1920's. By the time she appeared in her talkie films her face was more set, more mature, more of a woman's face. In the 1920's she still looked like a young girl, and her beauty and refreshing elegance were more striking.Lewis Stone has the benefit here of receiving some of the best and funniest lines in the picture. As the Prince, played by Nils, shows Lewis and Greta to their bedroom in his Javanese palace, where they will stay as guests, a king size bed is revealed. Lewis's eyes open wide and he whispers to Greta in shock, "Good Lord, a double bed!" This was something new for a married couple on screen in 1929! I burst out laughing.Great film, with a wonderful ending. Don't miss it.