Ninotchka
A stern Russian woman sent to Paris on official business finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest.
Director(s)
Ernst Lubitsch
Horace Hough
John Waters
Where to watch
Amazon Video
Rent
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
CinemaSerf
Although Greta Garbo takes top billing here - and she's great - I think this film really belongs to the on-form Melvyn Douglas as the scheming "Leon". He is the boyfriend of the Imperial Grand Duchess "Swana" (Ina Claire) who is living in exile in Paris. The newly formed Soviet Union is a bit broke, so three of it's finest representatives have arrived with what was her priceless jewellery so they can sell it on. "Leon" sees a chance for them to cash in so gets an injunction stalling the sale and that results in Moscow sending their best agent (Garbo) to get the job done. She's a no-nonsense communist in the best tradition, but she hadn't quite factored in the charismatic Frenchman who aims to firmly insert a spanner in the works. What now ensues is a delightfully funny drama that takes a swipe at the establishments of both nations, at the all too frequent ridiculousness of dogma and at flawed and quirky human nature. There's loads of chemistry here - all centring nicely around Douglas, and the triptych of her cohorts "Buljanoff" (Felix Bressart), "Kopalski" (Alexander Granach) and "Iranoff" (Sig Rumann) - who really just want to open a nice restaurant somewhere - add a nice touch of stooge-ness to the proceedings. As with Bergman and Dietrich, the camera simply loves Garbo and her slightest frown or smile speaks a hundred words. Seen here with a leading man who is charming and confident and with an entertaining story underpinning everything, this really is a jolly good watch.
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Ninotchka FAQs
The directors of Ninotchka are Ernst Lubitsch, Horace Hough, and John Waters.
The cast of Ninotchka includes Harry Semels as Gurganov (uncredited), Frank Reicher as Soviet Lawyer (uncredited), Dick Gordon as Club Patron (uncredited), Bess Flowers as Gossip (uncredited), Dorothy Adams as Swana's Maid Jacqueline (uncredited), Herschel Graham as Club Patron (uncredited), William Irving as Bartender (uncredited), Edwin Maxwell as Mercier, Felix Bressart as Comrade Buljanoff, Sig Ruman as Comrade Iranoff, Wolfgang Zilzer as Taxi Driver (uncredited), Ernst Lubitsch as Himself - Director in Trailer (uncredited), and more.
The duration of Ninotchka is 1h 50 mins.
Yes. You can watch the Ninotchka trailer on this Fanbiz page on Fanziz.
You can watch Ninotchka on Amazon Video (Rent). Check this Fanbiz page for the latest platforms.
Ninotchka was released on 16 Nov 1939.
Ninotchka is listed under Comedy and Romance on Fanbiz.
Ninotchka has 1 review on Fanziz, with an average rating of 7.0/10. One reviewer wrote: "Although Greta Garbo takes top billing here - and she's great - I think this film really belongs to the on-form Melvyn Douglas as the scheming "Leon". He is the boyfriend of the..."
