Wild Orchids (1929)

A prince in Java tries to seduce his visitor's wife, but he's discovered.

Director:

Sidney Franklin

Writers:

John Colton (story), Hanns Kräly (continuity),

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Lewis Stone, Nils Asther

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greta Garbo	...	Lillie Sterling
Lewis Stone	...	John Sterling
Nils Asther	...	Prince De Gace

Storyline

Lillie Sterling comes with her husband, John, on a business trip to Java, expecting a second honeymoon. On the ship, she witnesses Javanese Prince De Gace mercilessly whipping a servant and shrinks in horror from the sight. When John is befriended by the Prince, who is very attracted to Lillie, she tries to have little to do with him. During a conversation in their room, John is called away to answer a wire, and the Prince steals a kiss in his absence, for which she slaps him. So she is understandably upset when John accepts the Prince's invitation to stay at his plantation in Java when he promised to arrange a tiger hunt. She tries to dissuade John from going, but John says he always wanted to shoot a tiger and she is being unreasonable. Once at the plantation, John is too busy to pay much attention to Lillie, and when he is away, the Prince tries to seduce her. Lillie flees in tears after another kiss, afraid of her own emotions. Finally, she embraces the Prince when he tries again,...

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Plot Keywords:

tiger | seduction | infidelity | royalty | marriage

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Divlje orhideje

Box Office

Budget:

$322,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (musical score and sound effects) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During production Greta Garbo's friend and mentor, Mauritz Stiller, died in Sweden. Devastated by his death, Garbo traveled to Sweden incognito to mourn his death. Her secretive travel plans were quickly foiled when she was recognized on the voyage.

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Connections

Featured in Garbo (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Som en Vild Orkidé"
Music by Georg Enders
Lyrics by Nils-Georg

User Reviews

A fascinating silent film

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.