“NINOTCHKA”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24408, 20 September 1940, Page 3

“NINOTCHKA”

GARBO IN COMEDY ROLE The story of ‘‘•Ninotchka,” which features Greta Garbo and will be shown at the Regent Theatre to-day. is deliciously entertaining, its Russian atmosphere specially topical, its development highly diverting as well as tender, graceful, and beautifully romantic. The Soviet “ annexes valuable jewels from the Grand Duchess Swanna (Ina Claire), who is in exile, head ot the White Russians in Paris, and sends a committee of three to sell the jewels in Paris and to buy with the proceeds tractors for the “ comrades ” at home. Ina learns that the committee is staying in the very expensive suite, once the perquisite of Royalty, at a leading hotel, and she asks Douglas, an intimate friend, to prevent the sale of the jewels by an injunction. Douglas does his best against legality and holds up the procedure, and Ina, through a trick, gains possession of her valuables. The Commission (Sig Rumann, Alexander Granach and Felix Bressart) are having a luxurious time when Greta is sent after them to restore their sanity and a judicious contempt for capitalism and its frumoery and wicked way of life, and Garbo dons it thoroughly. Accidentally meeting Douglas, who is much struck with her beautv, she allows him to act as a cineropo round Paris, though nothing which is the result of the capitalistic system gives her the least thrill or interest. However, Douglas, who is now in love with her. by determined persistence, wears down her resistance, and she goes gay, buvlng lovely clothes and the rest. Ina, having got possession of the Jewels, is able to force Greta to return home; and. to nay for her relinquishing of Douglas, Greta gets the jewels. But in Russia she is still haunted by her memories of Douvlas. and later meeting him In Constantinople, she is overcome with Joy. The three very human comrades had been sent to that capita) on business, and Douglas had worked the old trick of enslaving -thei- senses to the dereliction of duty, honing Greta would again be sent after them—which she was. The three are so delighted with the freedom of capitalism that they follow Melvyn’s advice and set up in a cafe in the southern capital.