The Painted Veil (1934 film)

• Greta Garbo: Katrin Koerber Fane
• George Brent: Jack Townsend
• Herbert Marshall: Dr. Walter Fane
• Jean Hersholt: Mr Körber

The Painted Veil (OT: The Painted Veil ) is an American feature film with Greta Garbo, directed by Richard Boleslawski of 1934 The plot is based roughly on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. .

Action

The young Austrian Katrin Koerber lives an unconventional life and does not want to marry. However, at the end she agrees to marry the English physician Dr. Walter Fane. Her husband has committed to the fight against cholera and moved with his wife over to China. Aboard the ship that brings them to Asia learns Katrin, which begins to be bored with her husband already, the diplomats Jack Townsend know who makes love to her. In Hong Kong, Katrin eventually begins an affair with Jack, which leads to tension in their marriage. The romantic notions of Katrin on a marriage with Jack, however, shattered quickly. Deeply disappointed, the young woman follows her husband into the interior. Katrin finally begins to support in a convent of nuns in the care of sick children. When Walter orders to burn the houses of the people, so as to prevent the spread of the disease, caused riots, in which Walter is violated. Finally, Katrin recognized by the sickbed of her husband whose human size.

Background

After the artistic and financial triumph of Queen Christina from the previous year The Painted Veil was a return to the formula that most of Garbo's silent film had identified: the long- suffering wife, the back and forth between the faithful but boring husband and exciting, passionate lover - and is torn. The screenplay was based on a less successful stories of Maughan and merzte from the script every approach of social criticism, which had practiced openly in the novel more or less to the semi-colonial Auftrete of Europeans in China, the author. The studio also had big problems with the final version of the strip. First previews were disappointing and had an extensive new section of the material result.

The director Richard Boleslawski, in 1932 already the elaborate production Rasputin: The demon of Russia had turned with all three Barrymore siblings, was known for a rather sedate and slow narrative structure. He therefore had a hard time with a subject that would have been more narrative pace and verve needed in the adaptation. In the end, a lot of detail outlined triangle, the main purpose served before an opulent Studio Chinoiserie to allow the actress as many costume changes. As the story progresses Garbo wears many different hat models, including a turban, a beret, which was very popular, but at no time the eponymous veil.

A line of text became popular. Katrin is to marry asked at the beginning of her mother. It elects Dr. Fane and says on its decision to the somewhat surprising is for the family with a deep sigh:

" Better to have something that one takes, as [- long pause -]. Has nothing like that "

The rank of Greta Garbo as at that time the most famous film star in the world shows the opening titles, which begins with her ​​surname GARBO in huge block letters on the screen.

Theatrical Release

With production costs of just over 947,000 U.S. dollars, the film was higher than the MGM - average effort. He was a flop at the box office and played in the U.S., only 538,000 U.S. dollars, which represented almost half less than the previous revenue. Outside the United States yielded the film a score of 1,120,000 U.S. dollars and thus a cumulative total of 1.658 million Box office dollars. At the end of the film had a meager profit of 138,000 U.S. dollars.

Criticism

Most critics were impressed by Greta Garbo's presentation, although occasionally the accusation was heard, Garbo was too glamorous to represent a spinster woman.

Andre Mountain forest was done in his criticism of 7 December 1934 in the New York Times:

" ( The Painted Veil ) allows Greta Garbo again to triumph over the emotional lowlands, which manufactures the studio again and again for them."

Critical To some expressed Louella Parsons, who came to speak to the fundamental problems of the film:

" Greta Garbo, announced just as Garbo, is back with " The Painted Veil " back to the canvas. A Garbo movie, good or bad, is always celebrated by their enthusiastic followers as a great event. Yesterday's premiere was no exception to this rule. " The Painted Veil " is much better than the original version after a successful re- editing and a new section. Were the viewers of the first previews little fond of the strip, so I must say that I was pleasantly surprised but I was expecting a boring movie. Granted, the substance is not a real Garbo theme. The film also not up to the usual standard you can expect from MGM, but is still not fully grown flop. Without the excellent actor however, it would be merely involve second-rate entertainment. Garbo is as always fantastic, even though she has to wear ridiculous costumes and impossible hats. Her portrayal of a repentant wife is interesting to act without directly convincing. Some of the scenes that take place in China are well made, but most make an artificial and static impression, so that the entire strip acts not very authentic. Richard Boleslawski, the director is inhibited by the exaggerated melodrama of the substance and the complete lack of humor. "