Susan Lenox: Her Rise and Fall (1931)
Boy, I did not like this movie. It’s true that I’m not the biggest fan of either Greta Garbo or Clark Gable, but the story itself was far from interesting or compelling. It starts off great, with inventive directing styles and daring subject matter, but once the two leads meet, the movie goes south. The movie starts off filmed in silhouette as a child is born and grows into a young lady. Greta Garbo is the finished product, and while her cruel uncle Jean Hersholt arranges for her to be married to local boy Alan Hale, she has no romantic or positive feelings for him. She’s only agreeable because she’s been raised to believe a wedding ring is the one thing her mother didn’t have and therefore led to her demise and death in childbirth. However, when Alan tries to rape her before their wedding, Greta runs away in the middle of the night.
Naturally, after a traumatizing experience like that, the smart thing to do would be to accept a strange man’s invitation to spend the night in his cabin, right? Change your clothes in his bedroom and wear his pajamas, then drink port with him by the fireplace? See what I mean; the movie goes downhill when she meets Clark Gable. After their whirlwind romance, they break up, and naturally, after losing the love of her life, the smart thing to do is to join a travelling carnival and sleep with the first man who calls in a favor, right?
The one bonus of this movie was that I finally understood why Greta Garbo was popular. I never found her particularly attractive, and with the exception of a couple of films, I didn’t think she was particularly talented. However, if you watch Susan Lenox or Mata Hari, you’ll find out that she completely sold herself to her Hollywood audiences. She walks around practically naked in both, and that makes an impression on moviegoers. In this movie, Greta’s carnival costume consists of nothing more than a skirt and pasties. I don’t think anyone cared about her posture, her masculinity, or her talent; they were just staring at her skin.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie will not be your friend. There are several unexpected spinning camera tricks including a merry-go-round, random Busby Berkeley type dance formations, spinning train wheels, and a roulette wheel that will make you sick, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to an upsetting scene involving an animal, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it. Also, there may or may not be a rape scene.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Clark Gable movies here!
More Greta Garbo movies here!
Naturally, after a traumatizing experience like that, the smart thing to do would be to accept a strange man’s invitation to spend the night in his cabin, right? Change your clothes in his bedroom and wear his pajamas, then drink port with him by the fireplace? See what I mean; the movie goes downhill when she meets Clark Gable. After their whirlwind romance, they break up, and naturally, after losing the love of her life, the smart thing to do is to join a travelling carnival and sleep with the first man who calls in a favor, right?
The one bonus of this movie was that I finally understood why Greta Garbo was popular. I never found her particularly attractive, and with the exception of a couple of films, I didn’t think she was particularly talented. However, if you watch Susan Lenox or Mata Hari, you’ll find out that she completely sold herself to her Hollywood audiences. She walks around practically naked in both, and that makes an impression on moviegoers. In this movie, Greta’s carnival costume consists of nothing more than a skirt and pasties. I don’t think anyone cared about her posture, her masculinity, or her talent; they were just staring at her skin.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie will not be your friend. There are several unexpected spinning camera tricks including a merry-go-round, random Busby Berkeley type dance formations, spinning train wheels, and a roulette wheel that will make you sick, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to an upsetting scene involving an animal, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it. Also, there may or may not be a rape scene.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Clark Gable movies here!
More Greta Garbo movies here!