Anna Christie (1931 film)

• Greta Garbo: Anna Christie
• Theo Shall: Matt Burke
• Hans Junker man: Chris Christofferson
• Salka Viertel: Marthy

Anna Christie is an American feature film with Greta Garbo in 1930 and the German -language version of the film of the same original English version Anna Christie. Directed by Jacques Feyder. The premiere took place in Cologne on December 22, 1930.

Action

In the harbor district of New York, the young Anna Christie visits her father Chris, who left her as a small child to continue to go to sea. While waiting for him, she meets her father's lover, the old prostitute Marthy. Both have a lively conversation in which it is clear that Anna for a while even on St. Pauli in Hamburg has looked into this industry. Later Anna meets her father and is stirred by the ebullient welcome by the old man and since Chris is convinced of the virtue of his daughter, Anna does not dare to tell him about her past as a prostitute. Chris takes Anna on board his ship and carbon after it has become accustomed to life at sea, the painful memories of her seem to drop. However, when the sailor in distress Matt gets on the ship, threatening his impetuous passion for Anna to not only destroy the new relationship with her father, but also to bring her dark secret to light. Only after a fierce debate both men are willing to forgive Anna and finally find Anna and Matt their common happiness.

Background

Garbo turned immediately after completion of the English version, directed by Jacques Feyder a German version, which differs in several aspects. Such a procedure was not unusual in the early days of the talkies and other established stars like Maurice Chevalier produced occasionally remakes in their own language. Garbo's German pronunciation is a little hard, but overall the dialogue is more fluid and less charged with pathos. The actress is already acting more relaxed and seems less tense. In some scenes she laughs warmly. In private, Garbo has repeatedly stressed, she would have given in the German version of Anna Christie one of her finest performances ever.

At the relaxed attitude of Garbo is certainly the circumstance contributed to her mentor and close friend Salka Viertel played the role of Marthy. District, which is under her birth name Salka helmsman in the credits, was several years younger than Marie Dressler, who had played the Marthy in the original, but gave it more warmth and vulnerability to the role.

The shooting took place in the spring of 1930, with most of the film sets were reused from the English version.

For the role of Chris Rudolph Schildkraut was originally intended, but died during the filming and was replaced by Junker man.