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THE MYSTERIOUS LADY

(USA 1928)

 

ALTERNATE TITLE

Der Krieg Im Dunkel (Germany)
Die Dame von Loge 13 (AUSTRIA)
La belle ténébreuse (FRANCE)
Den mystiska kvinnan (SWEDEN)
La donna misteriosa (ITALY)
A Dama Misteriosa (BRAZIL)
Zar milosci (POLAND)
A Mulher Misteriosa (PORTUGAL)

 

FILM SCENES

   
 
 

 

COMPANY

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

 

CREDITS

Directed by Fred Niblo.
Produced by Harry Rapf (uncredited).
Treatment and continuity by Bess Meredyth, based on the novel Krieg im Dunkeln (War in the Dark) by Ludwig Wolff.
Titles by Marion Ainslee and Ruth Cummings.
Photographed by William Daniels.
Edited by Margaret Booth.
Settings by Cedric Gibbons.
Wardrobe by Gilbert Clark.
Assistant Director: Harold S. Bucque.

 

TECHNICAL SPECS

96 minutes
Silent Film

 

CAST

Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, Gustav von Seyffertitz,
Albert Pollet, Edward Connelly, Richard Alexander.

 

GARBO'S CHARACTER 

Tania Fedorova

 

FILM POSTER


More  HERE!

 

SYNOPSIS

Before the First World War, Tania (Greta Garbo), a Russian spy, has a love affair with Austrian Captain Karl von Heinersdorff (Conrad Nagel) in order to get secret plans that he has in his possession. She falls in love with him, but steals the plans anyway. Karl is court-martialed and jailed. His uncle (Albert Pollet) helps him to escape, and Karl goes to Russia to find Tania. He does find her and learns she really loves him. Tania dedicates herself to Karl's cause and double-crosses her spy chief, General Alexandroff (Gustav von Seyffertitz). She gets papers that Alexandroff received from an Austrian traitor and gives them to Karl. When Alexandroff finds out, Tania is forced to shoot him. She and Karl flee from Russia and go to Austria to clear him and to start a new life.

 

MOVIE PROGRAM


More  HERE!

 

PREMIERED/RELEASED

Release date: August 4, 1928
Premiere date: July 27, 1928, (Loew's State Theatre in Los Angeles)
Release date In Germany: 25.04.1929.

 

LOBBYCARDS


See   HERE!

 

PRODUCTION

Production Dates: May 8-June 15, 1928.
Production Location: Hollywood/Los Angeles/USA

 

MOVIE STILLS

The Stills were made during the production by James Manatt. 120 Movie Stills were shot.
   
More HERE!

 

TRIVIA

  This was Conrad Nagel's first movie with Garbo.

  Garbo had to decide between The Mysterious Lady and a film called Dream of love.
     She passed the role and Joan Crawford made the film.

 

BACKGROUND STORY

(in Treatment)

 

BUSINESS DATA

Budget: 337.000 Dollar.
Gross: USA: 543.000 Dollar, Non-USA: 551.000 Dollar, World: 1.084.000 Dollar.
Profit: 369.000 Dollar.

 

PORTRAITS

Ruth Harriet Louise made the portraits for the film.
   
More  HERE!

 

REVIEWS

Life:

She is the dream princess of eternity–the knockout of the ages.... Miss Garbo does it all, and does it gorgeously, and for once in her none-too-even career she is supported by an excellent cast, and directed with imagination and sense by Fred Niblo. I recommend The Mysterious Lady highly, even to those who don't feel about Greta Garbo quite as I do.
New York Morning Telegraph:
This Garbo girl seems to develop just a little more of that intangible “it” with each picture, and the love scenes between her and Nagel are what might be termed burning. There are love scenes by the score, many of which are in close-ups, with the famous La Garbo kiss given full sway as well as full camera focus.
Mordaunt Hall for New York Times:

None of the actors are able to do much about it, save to wander through and hope for something better next time. Miss Garbo is pretty, but she doesn't make too good a Russian spy.

Betty Colfax for New York Evening Graphic:

Miss Garbo takes to a close-up like no other star in Hollywood. She overcomes the handicap of an atrocious wardrobe, big feet, and widening hips with a facility of expression and a charm which still keep her in a class by herself.

 

MYSTERIOUS LADY FAN ART


See more  HERE!

 

PICTURE FROM THE FILM-SET


More  HERE!

 

STORY FROM THE FILM-SET

(in Treatment)

 

THE ORIGINAL PLAY

Based on the play  Krieg im Dunkeln (War in the Dark) by Ludwig Wolff.

 

DVD/VHS

A short excerpt, is Available on the The Garbo Silents Collection DVD.

See HERE!


 
SOURCE
 
 
Greta Garbo: A Cinematic Legacy – by Mark A. Vieira
(Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York 2005).
This is the best and most accurate book
about Garbo's-Films.


 
 
OTHER SOURCES
 

Karen Swenson – A life Apart
Barry Paris – Garbo
IMDB – International Movie Database
plus many other books, magazines and internet sites.
   
  
Film - Introduction  

 

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