I will admit (again) to not really being that into Greta Garbo movies (with a couple notable exceptions), although she is/was drop-dead gorgeous. Whether it was the writing or her own acting abilities, a lot of the roles I've seen her in so far have had her coming across as rather stilted at times, as if stifled by her own glamour. While she does look attractive as Anna Christie, the source material by Eugene O'Neill was very strong and much more compelling than the period melodramas she would end up doing later. And it doesn't hurt that you have the crackerjack MGM team of Gibbons/Shearer/Adrian for support. Aside from Garbo, Marie Dressler's limited role as Anna's father's mistress added a nice touch of levity to a largely serious story. And, as stage plays often do, there was a dramatic climax which contains perhaps the best piece of acting I've seen from Garbo so far (at least in talkies). Unlike most of the other Pre-Code Garbo films, this is one I can see myself returning to.
And yes, I know I'm the umpteenth person to use that quote as a subject line. So what? It's a classic, and for good reason.
And yes, I know I'm the umpteenth person to use that quote as a subject line. So what? It's a classic, and for good reason.