Nana (1934)

Nana is a 1934 American Pre-Code film, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, released through United Artists, starring Anna Sten. and directed by Dorothy Arzner and George Fitzmaurice. This version ... See full summary »

Directors:

Dorothy Arzner, George Fitzmaurice

Writers:

Harry Wagstaff Gribble, Willard Mack

Stars:

Anna Sten, Phillips Holmes, Lionel Atwill

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anna Sten	...	Nana
Lionel Atwill	...	Colonel André Muffat
Richard Bennett	...	Gaston Greiner
Mae Clarke	...	Satin
Phillips Holmes	...	Lieutenant George Muffat
Muriel Kirkland	...	Mimi
Reginald Owen	...	Bordenave
Helen Freeman	...	Sabine Muffat
Lawrence Grant	...	Grand Duke Alexis
Jessie Ralph	...	Zoe
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Finot

Storyline

Nana is a 1934 American Pre-Code film, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, released through United Artists, starring Anna Sten. and directed by Dorothy Arzner and George Fitzmaurice. This version of Émile Zola's heroine was to be the vehicle for Sten's triumph as Samuel Goldwyn's trained, groomed and heavily promoted answer to Greta Garbo. Despite the big investment, the publicity help from William Randolph Hearst, and a record-breaking opening week at Radio City Music Hall, Sten was beautiful but disappointing. Goldwyn's tutoring of Sten is mentioned in Cole Porter's 1934 song "Anything Goes" from the musical of the same name: "If Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction / Instruct Anna Sten in diction / Then Anna shows / Anything goes."

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | forename as title | f rated | title directed by female | one word title | 

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Taglines:

The world awaits, with expectant thrill her debut in American pictures as the voluptuous lady of the boulevards in a story suggested by Zola's novel. (Print Ad- Buffalo Courier-Express, ((Buffalo, NY)) 15 March 1934)

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Samuel Goldwyn hoped that this film would launch actress Anna Sten as "the next Greta Garbo." In spite of the doubling of the film's budget, however, it was a flop.

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Goofs

While the can-can girls perform, the band plays "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay." This song was written more than twenty years after the period of the film.

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Connections

Referenced in The Icicle Thief (1989)

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Soundtracks

That's Love
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Sung by Anna Sten

User Reviews

There Was Something About Anna Sten

Sure, the film is dated, the dialogue sometimes florid, the tone too much copied von Sternberg. But this movie a mega-flop and Anna Sten and her mentor Sam Goldwyn pillaged?

I have seen Nana a few times on TV; coincidentally when first aired on TV (around 1970) and twice since then. Gotta tell you, I think Goldwyn was on to something - Anna is, yes, a bit like Garbo, a bit like Dietrich, but a lot like, well Anna Sten. And her acting far better than she is criticized for (try her 1935 The Wedding Night, very touching, thank you King Vidor).

Too bad she was not afforded more opportunities in the right vehicles (like Marion Davies?).

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1934 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Nana

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1