A comedy classic starring Greta Garbo in her first comedy film. Greta Garbo shines but oh, how I wish this barebones DVD release could have shined as well.
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DVD TITLE: Ninotchka (as part of the Greta Garbo Warner Signature DVD Box Set)
DURATION: 110 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Full Screen, Dolby Digital – English Mono
COMPANY: Warner Home Video
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2005
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Screenplay by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Story by Melchior Lengyel
Executive Producer: Ernst Lubitsch
Associate Producer: Sidney Franklin
Music by Warner R. Heymann
Cinematography by William H. Daniels
Edited by Gene Ruggiero
Art Direction by Cedric Gibbons
Set Decoration by Edwin B. Willis
Featuring the voices of:
Greta Garbo as Ninotchka
Melyvn Douglas as Leon
Ina Claire as Swana
Bela Lugosi as Razinin
Sig Ruman as Iranoff
Felix Bressart as Buljanoff
Alexander Granach as Kopalski
Gregory Gaye as Rakonin
Garbo Talks! proclaimed ads when silent star Greta Garbo debuted in talkies. Nine years and 12 classic screen dramas later, the gifted movie legend was ready for another change. Garbo Laughs! cheered the publicity for her first comedy, a frothy tale of a dour Russian envoy sublimating her womanhood for Soviet brotherhood until she falls for a suave Parisian man-about-town (Melvyn Douglas).
Working from a cleverly barbed script written in part by Billy Wilder, director Ernst Lubitsch knew better than anyone how to marry refinement with sublime wit. “At least twice a day the most dignified human being is ridiculous,” he explained about his acclaimed Lubitsch Touch. That’s how we see Garbo’s lovestruck Ninotchka: serenely dignified yet endearing ridiculous. Garbo laughs. So will you.
In 1939, after a string of films for Warner Brothers for two decades, Greta Garbo (“Queen Christina”, “Grand Hotel”, “Anna Karenina”) filmed her first major comedy film titled Ninotchka directed by one of the world’s most elegant director’s, Ernst Lubitsch (“The Shop Around the Corner”, “Eternal Love”, “Rosita”) and a screenplay by Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch which was an adaptation of a screen story by Melchior Lengyel.
The film was a great success as it made over $2 million during “World War II”, earning four Academy Award nominations and in 1990, was selected for preservation in the US by the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Considered on a variety of major polls as one of the top 100 films of all time, it’s hard to dispute the popularity of Greta Garbo. Known for her romantic films and her elegance, the chance to see her in a more comedy-driven role was quite significant. But for Greta Garbo, it would be the second to the last film she would be part of in her 20-year film career.
But for “Ninotchka”, what better for Greta Garbo than to work with some of the more prominent names in the business.  Ernst Lubitsch, well-known since the silent-era, the emerging writers Billy Wilder & Walter Reisch, Charles Brackett who has written for several Lubitsch’s films, award winning cinematographer William H. Daniels (“The Naked City”, “Anna Christie”, “Cat on the Hot Tin Roof”, “How the West Was Won”) and composer Werner R. Heymann (“One Million B.C.”, “That Uncertain Feeling”, “To Be or Not to Be”).
“Ninotchka” is a film that focuses on the activities of three Russian men: Iranoff (played by Sig Ruman), Buljanoff (played by Felix Bressart) and Kopalski (played by Alexander Granach). The three are in Paris trying to sell jewelry that was confiscated from aristocrats during the Russian Revolution. When Grand Duchess Swana (played by Ina Claire) gets wind of it, she goes to Count Leon d’Algous (played by Melvyn Douglas) to block the sale of the jewelry.
Leon manages to block the sale but then works on befriending the three Russians and show them a free life in Paris far different from the life they currently know.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is quick to react by sending their special envoy Nina Ivanovna “Ninotchka” Yakushova (played by Greta Garbo). Her mission is to bring the jewelry and the three Russian aristocrats back to Russia.
Meanwhile, Leon tries to sweep Ninotchka off her feet with his quick wit and charm but she’s as solid as a rock and a person that seems as if she is devoid of any humor. Will he be able to get through to Ninotchka’s heart?
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“Ninotchka” is presented in standard definition, in black and white and in English and French Mono (Dolby Digital 1.o).   The picture quality of this film is absolutely beautiful. Blacks are nice and dark, grays and white with a slight touch of grain.
Subtitles are in English, French and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Unfortunately, with this release of this DVD being around 2005, you would expect featurettes and something to be included with this special feature but there is nothing but the original theatrical trailer. Â
“Ninotchka” is an enjoyable film featuring a splendid performance by Greta Garbo. With a wonderful pairing with director Ernst Lubitsch, when you think about the time this film was made, you can understand why it made such an impact to viewers.
With the Cold War looming (which begins in 1945) and World War II just beginning, the film was a hit around the world (not in Russia where the film was banned). During this time period, people wanted comedy to make them laugh, knowing that USA and other countries were heading into a deadly war. Over 70-years-later, for those not so familiar with how much tension there was during the war, what people had for entertainment was cinema.
Greta Garbo who was always seen as a serious romantic actress was in her first major comedy and she is able to play this deadpan character so perfectly. Although, in today’s worlds, the way that Leon (Melvin Douglas) falls for Ninotchka so quickly and will do anything to be with her may seem too “classic Hollywood” for their tastes (where in today’s world and films, a man like Leon would be seen as an opportunist interested in a one night stand), it’s this hot and cold relationship between the two that is so endearing. And wondering when the two will actually be on even footing. Two people from different countries and backgrounds and showing how Leon the capitalist can even with the iron heart of Ninotchka.
Ina Claire does do a fine job as Grand Duchess Swana, although a short role, she does play a feisty woman who is not afraid to confront Ninotchka in regards to her stolen jewelry and the different ideals between Ninotchka’s country and her own. Bela Lugosi also has a short role but does a great job playing a Russian officer.
Sure “Ninotchka” does make fun of the old Soviet Union specifically communism and tries to portray capitalism in the best light as possible but considering the time this movie was released, with people having to go through an economic slump a decade earlier and now having to deal with love ones and their country going to war, comedy is what people needed and sure enough, “Ninotchka” shined.
Overall, the DVD could have been much better and if this film is considered for Blu-ray or a re-release, hopefully there will be more special features included. But at this time, this version of “Ninotchka” is the best there is and if you want to experience Greta Garbo’s films, I definitely recommended the Greta Garbo Signature DVD box set.