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The Painted Veil

  • 19341934
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall in The Painted Veil (1934)
  • Drama
  • Romance
A wife neglected by her husband, a medical researcher in China, falls in love with a dashing diplomatic attaché.A wife neglected by her husband, a medical researcher in China, falls in love with a dashing diplomatic attaché.A wife neglected by her husband, a medical researcher in China, falls in love with a dashing diplomatic attaché.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • John Meehan(screen play)
    • Salka Viertel(screen play)
    • Edith Fitzgerald(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Greta Garbo
    • Herbert Marshall
    • George Brent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Boleslawski
  • Writers
    • John Meehan(screen play)
    • Salka Viertel(screen play)
    • Edith Fitzgerald(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Greta Garbo
    • Herbert Marshall
    • George Brent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos49

    Greta Garbo in "The Painted Veil," 1934/MGM.
    Greta Garbo in "The Painted Veil," 1934/MGM.
    Greta Garbo, George Brent, and Warner Oland in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo in The Painted Veil (1934)
    George Brent in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and George Brent in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and George Brent in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo, Herbert Marshall, and Jean Hersholt in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall in The Painted Veil (1934)
    Greta Garbo and Herbert Marshall in The Painted Veil (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Greta Garbo
    Greta Garbo
    • Katrinas Katrin
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Walter Faneas Walter Fane
    George Brent
    George Brent
    • Jack Townsendas Jack Townsend
    Warner Oland
    Warner Oland
    • General Yuas General Yu
    Jean Hersholt
    Jean Hersholt
    • Herr Koerberas Herr Koerber
    Bodil Rosing
    Bodil Rosing
    • Frau Koerberas Frau Koerber
    Katharine Alexander
    Katharine Alexander
    • Mrs. Townsendas Mrs. Townsend
    Cecilia Parker
    Cecilia Parker
    • Olgaas Olga
    Soo Yong
    Soo Yong
    • Amahas Amah
    Forrester Harvey
    Forrester Harvey
    • Waddingtonas Waddington
    Robert Adair
    • Polo Playeras Polo Player
    • (scenes deleted)
    Mariska Aldrich
    • German Teacheras German Teacher
    • (scenes deleted)
    Maidena Armstrong
    • Germanas German
    • (scenes deleted)
    Billy Bevan
    Billy Bevan
    • Bridegroomas Bridegroom
    • (scenes deleted)
    Beulah Bondi
    Beulah Bondi
    • Frau Koerberas Frau Koerber
    • (scenes deleted)
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
      W.H. Davis
      • Germanas German
      • (scenes deleted)
      Vernon Dent
      Vernon Dent
      • Chief of Policeas Chief of Police
      • (scenes deleted)
      • Director
        • Richard Boleslawski
      • Writers
        • John Meehan(screen play)
        • Salka Viertel(screen play)
        • Edith Fitzgerald(screen play)
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit
      In Austria, Katrin is lonely after her sister's marriage and she agrees to marry her father's research associate Dr. Walter Fane. Fane takes her to China but constantly ignors her in favour of his medical research. Lonely Katrin has an affair with Jack Townsend of the British Embassy. When it is discovered by Walter he becomes very bitter. Fane travels to fight a cholera epidemic and Katrin goes with him and helps. They grow closer together than ever before but Walter is knifed in a riot incited by the burning of a cholera infested town. Now their new found happiness will depend on Walter's survival. —Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
      • confucianism
      • cholera epidemic
      • graz austria
      • reference to divorce
      • pet dog
      • 67 more
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Taglines
        • SHE SEIZED THE LOVE That Is Every Woman's Birthright! (Print Ad- The Lodi News, ((Lodi, Calif.)) 9 January 1935)
      • Genres
        • Drama
        • Romance
      • Certificate
        • Passed
      • Parents guide

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Queen Christina (1933) and The Painted Veil (1934) were both huge hits in Europe (making twice their budget in the UK alone), but were underwhelming US successes.
      • Goofs
        A box is marked "Scotch Whiskey," which is the American spelling of whiskey. In the United Kingdom, however, it is spelled with no 'e' and is simply "whisky." Therefore, had the whisk(e)y been imported directly from Scotland, it should have had the 'whisky' spelling.
      • Quotes

        Katrin Koerber Fane: [after Townsend impulsively kisses Katrin] How could you?

        Jack Townsend: I could.

      • Crazy credits
        Garbo's name in the opening credits uses a font that forms the same Gothic arch in the letters as is used in Maugham's symbol. The other credits also use this to a lesser extent.
      • Connections
        Featured in The Good Earth (1937)
      • Soundtracks
        Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)
        (1850) (uncredited)

        from "Lohengrin"

        Written by Richard Wagner

        Played as background music in the wedding scene

      User reviews32

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      Maugham's story, much improved.
      The best adaptation of Maugham may be "The Letter," but this version of "The Painted Veil," which substantially changes his ending, is very nearly as good-- as subtle, as elegant, and as satisfying as a work of art. Both examine the profound differences and similarities that exist between passion and love, but this film goes deeper, looking at the glory that ensues when, at length, love and passion bloom together.

      Much credit goes to William Daniels, who was D.P. for directors from Stroheim to Ichikawa to Bud Yorkin. His framing and silvery lighting give even greater weight to the superb performances by Garbo and the masterful Herbert Marshall. Together Daniels and director Boleslawski allow the two actors to deliver the very affecting and very adult dialog with rare dignity and feeling.

      The two kitchen scenes in particular, one in the first sequence, and one near the end, are flawless, and all the better because of being parallels, and because the dialog employs the sheer force of elemental simplicity. In the second scene,when cholera-fighting Marshall finally speaks of his wife's infidelity, he humbly takes some of the blame, saying, "I went blind… a little mad. But if all the men who were hurt simply quit — bad business." Garbo at last begins to understand and replies, "Being in love, and letting it smash things as I have, I thought it had the right of way, I really did." She finally realizes that passion, such as hers for her lover, can be both deeply felt and utterly shallow.

      One more note about the visual genius on display. A standard cliché, fireworks,is used to suggest orgasm, but it is done as brilliantly and thrillingly as I've ever seen: three or four bursts of sparks shoot into the frame, like nothing so much as ejaculation.
      helpful•15
      2
      • Irie212
      • Oct 25, 2009

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • November 23, 1934 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Languages
        • Chinese
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Obojeni veo
      • Filming locations
        • China
      • Production company
        • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Budget
        • $947,000 (estimated)
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 25 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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