Ninotchka (1939)

A stern Russian woman sent to Paris on official business finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest.

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Charles Brackett (screen play), Billy Wilder (screen play),

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Ina Claire

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greta Garbo	...	Ninotchka
Melvyn Douglas	...	Leon
Ina Claire	...	Swana
Bela Lugosi	...	Razinin
Sig Ruman	...	Iranoff (as Sig Rumann)
Felix Bressart	...	Buljanoff
Alexander Granach	...	Kopalski
Gregory Gaye	...	Rakonin
Rolfe Sedan	...	Hotel Manager
Edwin Maxwell	...	Mercier
Richard Carle	...	Gaston

Storyline

Only the royal suite at the grandest hotel in Paris has a safe large enough for the jewels of the Grand Duchess Swana. So the three Russians who have come to sell the jewels settle into the suite until a higher ranking official is dispatched to find out what is delaying the sale. She is Ninotchka, a no nonsense woman who fascinates Count Leon who had been the faithful retainer of the Grand Duchess. The Grand Duchess will give up all claim to the jewels if Ninotchka will fly away from the count. But can one count on a count?

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Plot Keywords:

russian | hotel | playboy | jewelry | lawsuit | 

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Taglines:

In Moscow they planted medals on her bosom . . . in Paris they planted kisses on her cheek . . .

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

1 February 1940 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Ninotschka

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,365,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,187,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Greta Garbo's famous hat in the film was made by her regular costumier Adrian, it was actually based on a sketch by Garbo herself.

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Goofs

When Ninotchka tells a funny story, objects on the desk change positions.

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Quotes

Anna: Oh, that Burganoff. You never know if he's on his way to the washroom or the secret police.

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Connections

Featured in Love, Hate & Propaganda: The Cold War: In the Shadow of Fear (2011)

User Reviews

A great movie -- timeless

This is a fantastic movie. I can't understand why some people have problems with it. Makes me wonder if we don't have some people recoiling at some innocent cracks made at the Soviet Union's expense. As a romantic comedy it has very few peers and is a great introduction to black and white films for those used only to color. There are a plethora of interesting secondary characters. Garbo is wonderful, of course, and Dougless is as good as I've seen him any film. Lubitsch's direction is masterly, but not 'ground-breaking', a fault for which some are willing to run him under the harrow -- a case of holding someone to impossible standards. Nobody can break new ground in every film -- sometimes we have to settle for mere masterly competence. See this film! Unless you happen to romanticize the former Soviet Union, you will enjoy it.