Garbo was desperate to make a modern film comedy. Her last film, Conquest (MGM 1937) was not a commercial success. Garbo was also just branded with the infamous box-office poison advertisement. The star made a one-year break from making movies and went to Europe . Before she returned, many asked: “What's next for Garbo?” Garbo was the most celebrated star in the world. Her potential as an actor was unrealized. The studio had all the resources necessary to launch a major comeback for her.

How the ‘Ninotchka' was born

Many projects had been suggested and considered for Garbo's return to Hollywood but what the star most needed was a new image for her ‘comeback'. A repackage of her old formula. There was every reason to try. One day in mid-1937, Garbo's best friend, Salka Viertel asked Hungarian writer Melchior Lengyel if he had a story for Garbo that could be advertised with the slogan ‘Garbo Laughs'.

Lengyel was pleased to be asked. He looked into his notebooks and came across an idea he had some years ago. The writer called Viertel and a meeting with Garbo was arranged. He met the star, opened his notebook and read aloud : “Russian girl saturated with Bolshevist ideals goes to Paris . She meets romance and has an uproarious good time. Capitalism not so bad after all.” Garbo listened to his ideas and then laughed out loud. “I like i. “I will do it.” Within a week, Lengyel had collected $15,000 for his idea.

Marie Curie or Ninotchka

The MGM producers liked the story and thought it might work but they still wanted to have more than one project to offer Garbo. Viertel who was not officially involved in writing Ninotchka , wanted to push Garbo and MGM to do a on the life of Marie Curie. Garbo liked the idea and Salka kept on working on the script but MGM producers were not really convinced and decided to shelve Marie Curie. They rather would like to produce a comedy for Garbo.

In late 1938, Garbo returned from Europe to work on her next film. As soon as Garbo arrived in Hollywood , other possible projects were discussed. Nothing turned out. S. N. Behrman (who was assigned to work on the Ninotchka script) had finished his work on re-writing the Lengyel's story. The script got green light and Garbo signed a contract for a new film.

The director

Garbo was disappointed to hear that Cukor was not available and the studio suggested her Edmund Goulding. Garbo always wanted to work with G erman-born film director Ernst Lubitsch and MGM just signed a two-picture deal with him and his first would be Ninotchka.

On February 8, 1939, Lubitsch started work at MGM but he did not like the Behrman script and he brought in screenwriter Walter Reisch. Lubitsch next wanted to meet with Garbo but she would not consent to meet Lubitsch at the studio or at his home. Lubitsch was beginning to lose interest. After new directors had been considered Lubitsch still wanted to do the film.

After some time he finally won her over. They met and discussed the film. After some more meetings, Garbo gave okay to do the movie and the director and his three writers worked on the script. As Garbo's partner, Lubitsch had cast Melvyn Douglas, with whom he enjoyed working on Angel ( Paramount 1937) with Marlene Dietrich. In June 1939, Garbo was back in front of a camera, the first time since two years. Garbo was in good mood and wanted to start filming.

Garbo laughs

Lubitsch said that the reason he wanted to make this picture was that he thought Garbo was really funny. Friends said that Garbo changed a lot while making this picture and laughed more then before.

Lubitsch thought that Garbo did extremely well in the restaurant scene where Ninotchka laughs for the first time. The scene had caused some anxiety, since the film would be sold with the phrase “Garbo Laughs!”.

Garbo didn't want to play the nightclub scene in which she would have to get tipsy on champagne. So the scene was filmed toward the end of the shooting. When they finally did get to it she was very timid. But finally the director got her to relax completely by talking to her and being patient.

Filming ended

Filming ended on July 28, and news began to spread that Garbo and Lubitsch had made a superlative movie. In late September, MGM held a preview of Ninotchka. Garbo arrived at the theater in Long Beach . This was her first preview since Camille, and Garbo was very excited. As the film played, it became obvious that people were really enjoying it.

After the film, Lubitsch was tremendously curious about Garbo's reaction. “Do you like yourself in it?” he asked. Her answer was surprising. “She didn't know if she was bad or good.”

Ninotchka premiered on October 26, 1939 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and two weeks later in New York and got amazing reviews. On November 22, a New York Times item reported that 300,000 people had seen Ninotchka in its first two weeks at the Music Hall.

The film had done very well, grossing $1.187 million domestically and, even without Europe , $1.092 million overseas. It was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, and Garbo received her fourth Best Actress nomination. This classic movie proved that she was still a star of the first magnitude, loved by her fans and revered by critics. But Garbo was not happy. After the film Garbo passed her time in solitude, not knowing or caring if MGM was looking for her next vehicle.

 Tovarich (the Russian word for comrade) is a 1937 Warner Bros. comedy film based on the 1935 play by Robert E. Sherwood. It was produced and directed by Anatole Litvak with Robert Lord as associate producer and Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner as executive producers.

Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer in Tovarich

Garbo's Ninotchka is one of the sprightliest comedies of the year, a gay and impertinent and malicious show which never pulls the punch lines (no matter how far below the belt they may land) and finds the screen's austere first lady of drama playing in deadpan comedy with the assurance of a Buster Keaton....

It must be monotonous, this superb rightness of Garbo's playing. We almost wish she would handle a scene badly once in a while just to provide us with an opportunity to show we are not a member of a fan club. But she remains infallible and Garbo, always exactly what the situation demands, always as fine as her script and director permit her to be.

 Silk Stockings is a musical with a book by George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Cole Porter.  Loosely based on the Melchior Lengyel story Ninotchka and the 1939 film adaptation it inspired. It premiered in 1955 on Braodway, starring Hilgegard (Neff) Knef.

Original Broadway production with Knef in the arms of Ameche.

 Ninotchka  - The theatrical Version, was the title of an Italian stage production which premiered in 2001.

Claudia Koll starred in the Italian theatrical version of Ninotchka

In Ninotchka, three scenes were changed in the course of shooting. They involved changes in Garbo's wardrobe, which looked drab in the rushes. She was given a stylish Russian blouse for the retake of her first scene in Leon 's apartment, and a luxuriant off-the-shoulder evening gown made of white tulle for the nightclub scene, which was first shot with a high-necked crepe dress.

Ina Claire had stolen some scenes

Filming ended on July 28 but the late-August preview was a little worrisome because Garbo's female co-star Ina Claire had stolen some scenes. So Lubitsch cut two of Ina Claire's scenes and then brought her back to shoot transitional material. It is not known if thsoe scenes still excist.

 Silk Stockings is a 1957 MGM musical film remake of Ninotchka. It was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The supporting cast included Janis Paige, Peter Lorre, Jules Munshin, and George Tobias repeating his Broadway role.

DVD cover

 Ninotchka - TV version I, in 1960 German actress Maria Schell starred in an American TV production of the classic Garbo film.

Maria Schell

 Ninotchka - TV version II, in 1965 German actress Ruth Leuwerik starred in a German TV production of  the classic Garbo film.

Ruth Leuwerik

 Auch Ninotschka zieht ihr Höschen aus (English: Even Ninotchka takes off her panties), is 1973 produced 'softsex' film. The title and even the lead character is inspired by Garbo and the classic movie. The Spanis title is Las Calientes Bolcheviques.

Spanish poster art