Actors - Ninotchka

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	Actors - Ninotchka

Ninotchka is a 1939 American film by Ernst Lubitsch.

Storyline

Three Russians, Iranoff, Buljanoff and Kopalski, are sent to Paris to sell jewelry confiscated from the aristocracy during the Russian Revolution of 1917. Upon arrival, they meet Count Leon d'Algout, on a mission from the Russian Grand Duchess Swana who wants to retrieve her jewelry before it is sold. He corrupts them and talks them into staying in Paris. The Soviet Union then sends Nina Yakushova, a special envoy whose goal is to go through with the jewelry sale and bring back the three men. Rigid and stern at first, she slowly becomes enticed to the West by Count d'Algout who has fallen in love with her.

Commentary

Launched with the tagline "Garbo Laughs!", Ninotchka is Greta Garbo's first full comedy, and her next to last film. It is one of the first American movies which, under cover of humorous light romance, overtly criticizes the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. It depicts the Soviet system as rigid and gray, comparing it to the free and sunny Parisian society. Released in 1939 in the United States, the movie was released during World War II in Europe, where it became a great success.

Although much of the marketing surrounding Ninotchka played on Garbo's super-serious image, suggesting she had never laughed or played comedy on film before, an examination of her canon reveals this to not be the case. Most notably her 1933 film, Queen Christina
saw her laughing and had her play clear romantic-comedy moments with her co-star John Gilbert, although the movie is generally regarded as an historical drama.

Cast

Greta Garbo
: Nina Ivanovna Yakushova, aka Ninotchka
Melvyn Douglas
: Comte Léon d'Algout
Ina Claire : Grand Duchess Swana
Sig Ruman
: Michael Simonavich Iranoff
Félix Bressart : Buljanoff
Alexander Granach
: Kopalski
Bela Lugosi
: Commissar Razinin
Tamara Shayne : Anna, Ninotchka's roommate in Moscow
Rolfe Sedan
: Hotel Manager

Technical details and crew

Title : Ninotchka
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Screenplay: Melchior Lengyel
, Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder et Walter Reisch
Production : Ernst Lubitsch, Sidney Franklin
Cinematography: William H. Daniels
Original Music: Werner R. Heymann
Make-up: Jack Dawn
Costumes: Adrian
Editing: Gene Ruggiero
Set decoration: Edwin B. Willis
Released: November 9, 1939
Country: United States
Genre: comedy
Color: black and white
Length: 110 minutes

Accolades

The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Remade as Silk Stockings in 1957, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

Nominations and awards

4 nominations for Academy Awards in 1939 including Best Picture, Best Actress in a leading role, best Original Story and best Screenplay. Won none.

Memorable quotes

Ninotchka, on her arrival at the train station, updating her fellow countrymen about latest news in Moscow: "The last mass trials were a success: there will be fewer, but better Russians."

Category:1939 films Category:Comedy films Category:Best Picture Oscar Nominee Category:Best Actress Oscar Nominee (film)

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