Mata Hari (1931)

Calificación de los usuarios:

6.8/10   

Escritores:

Benjamin Glazer (written by) and
Leo Birinsky (written by) ...

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

26 diciembre 1931 (USA)

Género:

Drama | Romance

Frase comercial:

WHWN MATA HARI DANCED! Here is Greta Garbo's greatest picture---a romance based on the true life story of the exotic woman spy, Mata Hari. Truly all-star, this production will leave in mind and heart the memory of an unforgettable thrill! (original herald)

Plot:

Mata Hari is a German spy, working in Paris. She has already seduced the Russian general Shubin, and has now set her eyes on lieutenant Rosanov...

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Mata Hari | Spy | Paris | General

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Not Merely a Movie of its Day...

Reparto

Greta Garbo	...	Mata Hari
Ramon Novarro	...	Lt. Alexis Rosanoff
Lionel Barrymore	...	Gen. Serge Shubin
Lewis Stone	...	Andriani (pavilion owner)
C. Henry Gordon	...	Dubois (French Secret Service chief)
Karen Morley	...	Carlotta (German agent)
Alec B. Francis	...	Maj. Caron (Mata'a lawyer)
Blanche Friderici	...	Sister Angelica (as Blanche Frederici)
Edmund Breese	...	Warden
Helen Jerome Eddy	...	Sister Genevieve
Frank Reicher	...	The cook / spy (German captain)

Duración:

USA:89 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Negro y Blanco

Relación de Aspecto:

1.37 : 1

Sonido:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Clasificación:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | Norway:16 (1932) | USA:Approved (PCA #5419-R, July 1939 for re-release)

Locaciones de Filmación:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Compañía:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivialidades:

While this film was in production, rumors began circulating that co-stars Greta Garbo and Ramon Novarro were having an affair. This was untrue, but they did develop a strong friendly rapport.

Citas:

Lt. Alexis Rosanoff: What's the matter, Mata?

Conexiones de Película:

Referenced in Garbo Talks (1984)

Banda de Sonido:

Ave Maria, Op.52 No.6

Not Merely a Movie of its Day...

"When all other pictures fade from memory, there will be in your mind and heart the unforgettable thrill of amours, intrigues, betrayals" (the original trailer of 1931 MATA HARI).

And indeed, at the time when WWI events were still fresh in people's memories, there was hardly any theme so provocative, so intriguing than bringing to screen the life of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876-1917), a seductive female spy known as Mata Hari (from Malay language 'the Eye of the Day'). Since the legend arose around her figure just after the firing squad in October 1917, she became a cinema heroine quickly. Consequently, there were soon silent films made (being for instance DIE SPIONIN (1921) with Asta Nielsen).

However, not to allow the enthusiasm to pass and in order to adapt her persona to the film industry for good, there was nothing more challenging than find some very popular celebrity who would portray Mata. The talkies appeared and the producers in Hollywood studios faced this challenge: to cast the lead, to exalt a celebrity in the same manner as legends did exalt Mata. What woman may become a screen idol compared to dance idol of WWI? Was it to be a promiscuous, flirtatious rising star Marlene Dietrich or cold Swedish beauty Greta Garbo?

The results we all know... The MGM studio with the director George Fitzmaurice took lots of liberties with the life of the heroine and made a significant film where lust turns into feelings and espionage into genuine love...how touching, how dramatic, how Hollywood-like for the absorbed viewers of the early 1930s... People flocked to see the film, there were discussions about Mata Hari and Greta Garbo, people looked for similarities that the two women had; years later, I heard about the film from my Grandma who saw it in Poland in the 1930s.

However, after all these years, it seems that all that enthusiasm has naturally passed, that MATA HARI has become dated, no longer adequate for modern viewers, up-to-date expectations. Partly, it is true since many performances as well as filming techniques occur to be out-of-date. Yet, in spite of some criticism and ironic smiles at classic cinema, there are some aspects that still make the film memorable. What is it that makes MATA HARI interesting after almost 8 decades?

To analyze this aspect more deeply, we have to take into consideration Greta Garbo, a screen persona that was capable of dominating her entire movies with genuineness, frank eroticism and marvelous acting talent. People went to see movies where there was GARBO in the credits. For many, that would suffice. They curiously waited for her entrance and her presence turned out to be a success for the movie. Today, we could say that it was a more fanatic attitude than with modern film stars. Yes, indeed! We no longer believe our celebrities to such extend (with some exceptions). However, those people (though not so experienced in cinema as we are nowadays) knew exactly what to expect from Garbo and knew that she would not disappoint them whatever role she had been given.

And the same case is with this movie, MATA HARI (1931) where Garbo does one of her very best jobs, portrays a charming, seductive, delicious femme fatale from her intriguing, dazzling dance to the modesty and upright heart before the execution. And again, it is important to mention one fact: don't see the story for the sake of history! See the story for the sake of Garbo! What powerful distortion there may be through the cinema and how convincing her vehicles occur.

And other cast...? Ramon Novarro in the male lead as the Russian aviator, Lt. Alexis Rosanoff, memorably depicts an interesting idea of a young idealist man. His sincere love touches the enigmatic femme fatale with a cigarette and changes her life (or more specifically life values) for good... Lionel Barrymore is also very convincing as jealous, furious General Shubin. In some scenes, he does a truly artistic work within actor's flairs. Besides, there is a need to mention a mainstay of Garbo's movies, Mr Lewis Stone who portrays cold, unemotional Andriani for whom correct politics is superior to free will. Overall, great elite of 1930s Hollywood but Garbo, similarly to Mata Hari, at the heights of senses.

The visual aspect is also worth considering from wonderful wardrobe by Adriani through good cinematography, big thrill to charming moments that never fade from memory. Except for the aforementioned dance with the clear elements of orientalism, the scene that drew my attention was the first long meeting between Mata and Alexis: he gets more and more after her making one step forward, she gets more troubled making a step backwards, the atmosphere becomes more intense, she plays a romantic bit on the piano, the faces of both are getting lustful and...in a minute, both say "goodnight" to each other...the scene turns into an image of Garbo's face with flowers. Another scene that requires particular attention is the one at the hospital. But I won't reveal more not to spoil the thing. All I want to say is: consider the image of Madonna and answer the thought provoking question to yourself: Mata lights up the candle the next morning... what does she indicate through this action?

MATA HARI is not a long film but astounding for Garbo fans, useful for film historians and still entertaining for a considerable number of movie buffs. What more can you want? Isn't that a great success after all these years? Yes, another smashing success of classic cinema.