Mata Hari (1931)

A semi-fictionalized account of the life of Mata Hari, an exotic dancer who was accused of spying for Germany during World War I.

Director:

George Fitzmaurice (uncredited)

Writers:

Benjamin Glazer (by), Leo Birinsky (by) (as Leo Birinski)

Stars:

Greta Garbo, Ramon Novarro, Lionel Barrymore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Greta Garbo	...	Mata Hari
Ramon Novarro	...	Lt. Alexis Rosanoff
Lionel Barrymore	...	General Serge Shubin
Lewis Stone	...	Andriani
C. Henry Gordon	...	Dubois
Karen Morley	...	Carlotta
Alec B. Francis	...	Caron
Blanche Friderici	...	Sister Angelica (as Blanche Frederici)
Edmund Breese	...	Warden
Helen Jerome Eddy	...	Sister Genevieve
Frank Reicher	...	The Cook-Spy

Storyline

During World War I, Mata Hari is a German spy, working in Paris. She has already seduced the Russian general Shubin, and has now set her eyes on lieutenant Rosanov, a young up-and-coming officer. In order to get her hand on secret documents in his possession, she spends a night with him. But the secret police is on to her, only waiting to get enough evidence to arrest her.

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Plot Keywords:

mata hari | female spy | 1910s | paris | french third republic | 

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Taglines:

WHWN MATA HARI DANCED! Here is Greta Garbo's greatest picture---a romance based on the true life story of the exotic woman spy, Mata Hari. Truly all-star, this production will leave in mind and heart the memory of an unforgettable thrill! (original herald)

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Мата Хари

Filming Locations:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$558,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$931,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,227,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Major Thomas Coulson's 1930 book, "Mata Hari: Courtesan and Spy", piqued interest in turning it into a movie, but an MGM executive said that no one book was the basis of their movie. Mata hari translates to "eye of the day" in Indonesian (and Malay), and is the most common word for "sun" in those languages. Censors of many cities required cuts in the movie, which was typical of many pre-code films. When MGM applied to the Hays Office for a certificate in 1936 for re-release, it was refused. However, a certificate was issued in 1939, when the movie was re-released.

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Goofs

Towards the climax of the film, when Mata Hari confronts General Shubin, she is wearing a ring on her left ring finger. She hurries out of the room, and moments later she encounters Rosanoff. He takes her by the hand and the ring is no longer there.

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Quotes

Lt. Alexis Rosanoff: What's the matter, Mata?

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Connections

Referenced in The Story of a Dress (1964)

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Soundtracks

Tango des Amours
(uncredited)
Music by Jack Milton

User Reviews

Enjoyable Melodramatic Love Story

In 1917, in Paris, the famous dancer Mata Hari (Greta Garbo) has a double life as a German spy, obtaining secrets from French and Russian officers in bed. The chief of the French Secret Service Dubois (C. Henry Gordon) is unsuccessfully in her tail trying to find proofs to incriminate Mata Hari. The Russian general Serge Shubin (Lionel Barrymore) has a crush on Mata Hari, but when she meets the young Russian pilot lieutenant Alexis Rosanoff (Ramon Novarro), she sleeps with him to photograph secret documents in his possession. But they fall in love for each other, and the jealousy of her lover Shubin provides the evidences to Dubois to arrest her.

This fictional and naive romance based on the life and death "Mata Hari" is an enjoyable melodramatic love story. Of course it is not a historic event, but this pleasant romantic fantasy is supported by an extremely beautiful Great Garbo performing a charismatic role in a great production. In spite of not being a masterpiece, I totally disagree with the unfair reviews in IMDb. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Mata Hari"