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Ninotchka Overview:

Ninotchka (1939) was a Comedy - Romance Film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and produced by Ernst Lubitsch and Sidney Franklin.

SYNOPSIS

"Garbo Laughs!" The cool beauty's first comedy was a triumph and she never looked more beautiful or performed so gracefully. When the Soviet Union sends a committee to Paris to exchange royal jewels for tractors, former Russian Grand Duchess Claire dispatches her lover and a former count (Douglas) to liberate her diamonds. He successfully corrupts the comrades and the Soviets send in a secret weapon, the utterly humorless, businesslike Garbo. Douglas goes to work showing her the delights of capitalist life and of love, and, though he loses the battle for the jewels, wins her heart. Directed with a light touch by Lubitsch from a sparkling script by Wilder and Brackett. Remade as Comrade X (1940) with Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr, and Iron Petticoat (1956) with Katharine Hepburn and Bob Hope.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Ninotchka was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.

Academy Awards 1939 --- Ceremony Number 12 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActressGreta GarboNominated
Best WritingMelchior LengyelNominated
Best WritingCharles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter ReischNominated
Best PictureMetro-Goldwyn-MayerNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Ninotchka BlogHub Articles:

Garbo and everyone laughs in Ernst Lubitsch's "Ninotchka"

By Stephen Reginald on May 20, 2024 From Classic Movie Man

Garbo and everyone laughs in Ernst Lubitsch's "Ninotchka" Ninotchka (1939) was the movie that proclaimed, “Garbo laughs!” The great Great Garbo is Ninotchka is a sophisticated delight. The supporting cast includes, Sig Ruman, Felix Bressart, Alexander Granach, and Bela (Dracular) Lu... Read full article

COMEDY GOLD #19: Greta Garbo in Ninotchka (1939)

By Carol Martinheira on Sep 17, 2019 From The Old Hollywood Garden

COMEDY GOLD #19: Greta Garbo in Ninotchka (1939) On September 17, 2019 By CarolIn Uncategorized Earlier this year, I had an idea for a Top 10 article and, as a result, I’ve been watching and re-watching films in order to prepare myself for it – it’s going... Read full article

Watching 1939: Ninotchka

on Mar 22, 2018 From Comet Over Hollywood

In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, th... Read full article

Great Films of 1939: “Ninotchka” March 12 at Daystar Center

By Stephen Reginald on Feb 26, 2016 From Classic Movie Man

Great Films of 1939: “Ninotchka” March 12 at Daystar Center Great films of 1939: Ninotchka Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: March 12, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Ninotchka (1939) was the movie that proclaimed, ... Read full article

Ninotchka (1939) (2)

By Emily on May 4, 2014 From The Vintage Cameo

Though romantic comedies have largely fallen out of respect in mainstream cinema today, there was a time—as has been proved repeatedly throughout the Romantic Comedy Blogathon—when romantic comedies were popular with both critics and audiences. Ninotchka is a fantastic example of these conv... Read full article

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Ninotchka Quotes:

Ninotchka: What have you done for mankind?
Leon: Not so much for mankind... for womankind, my record isn't quite so bleak.
Russian Visa Official: To an unseen caller: "Hello! Comrade Kasabian? No, I am sorry. He hasn't been with us for six months. He was called back to Russia and was investigated. You can get further details from his widow."
Ninotchka: When I kissed you, I betrayed a Russian ideal. I should be stood up against the wall.
Leon: Would that make you feel better?
Ninotchka: Much better.
Ninotchka: I have paid the penalty.
Ninotchka: The day will come when you will be free. Go to bed, Little Father, we want to be alone.
Iranoff: We can say whatever we want. We can shout! We can complain! Look: THE SERVICE IN THIS HOTEL IS TERRIBLE! See? Nobody comes, nobody pays any attention! That's freedom.
Buljanoff: That's bad management.
See More Quotes from Ninotchka
Ninotchka Facts
Curiously enough, this was the very movie Arnold Schwarzenegger studied when he was trying to find his character for Red Heat. The exercise - emulate Greta Garbo - was recommended to him by his director Walter Hill.
Greta Garbo did not wear any makeup for her scenes where she is the stern envoy.
Greta Garbo had her misgivings about appearing in a comedy and was particularly nervous about the drunk scene, which she considered to be highly vulgar.
Allegedly, after a test screening of Ninotchka, one audience member wrote on the preview card: "I laughed so hard, I peed in my girlfriend's hand!"
Ernst Lubitsch only signed on as director after George Cukor decamped for Gone with the Wind. As part of his deal for directing, MGM agreed to make The Shop Around the Corner for Lubitsch afterwards.
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