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 5 wins & 4 nominations.

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.

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Plot Keywords:

screwball comedy | playboy | envoy | defector | communism | 

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Taglines:

M-G-M's Laugh Riot !

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Studio publicity information indicates that for the first time in her career as an actress, Garbo attended the preview screenings of the film, one of which took place in Long Beach, where Garbo reportedly stood in line to buy tickets for fifteen minutes before anyone recognized her.

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Goofs

Ninotchka (actually Ninochka) is pronounced NEEN-och-ka in Russia, not Nee-NOTCH-ka. The name is an endearing form of Nina.

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Quotes

Ninotchka: Would you like to see my wound?
Leon: I'd love to!

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Referenced in Billy Wilder Speaks (2006)

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Soundtracks

L'Internationale
(uncredited)
Music by Pierre De Geyter

User Reviews

Why Didn't Garbo Make More Comedies?

I see that Billy Wilder collaborated on this. Was it a studio decision that Garbo wasn't cast as a comedienne? From the evidence in this film, she should have been. Her timing is excellent, her delivery very special. This is a gem I'd never seen that deserves its National Registry status. In 1939 the Soviet Union had sympathizers in the US, and during the coming World War it was an ally. This gentle spoof of Soviet seriousness and self-conscious worker ethics foreshadows the arguments that were later trotted out after the War to begin the Cold War, but here the humor and satire are soft, more Noel Coward than propaganda.

My lament is not seeing more comedy from Garbo. She made such serious and tragic films, when she could have been making us laugh. The film is dated, yes, but Garbo herself shines through along with her three Russian accomplices. I think that Billy Wilder and Garbo would have been a great team

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

23 November 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ninotchka

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,365,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,204

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