Der bunte Schleier (1934)
42KDer bunte Schleier: Directed by Richard Boleslawski. With Greta Garbo, Herbert Marshall, George Brent, Warner Oland. A wife neglected by her husband, a medical researcher in China, falls in love with a dashing diplomatic attaché.
“Greta Garbo stars with Herbert Marshall, George Brent, Warner Oland, and Jean Hersholt in u0026quot;The Painted Veil,u0026quot; from 1934, based on the novel by Somerset Maugham. Garbo plays an Austrian woman, Katrin, who grabs at the chance to marry her fatheru0026#39;s research assistant, Walter Fane (Marshall) after her sister marries and leaves home. At first, they are happy, as Katrin gets to see parts of the world she hasnu0026#39;t seen. Soon, however, she becomes lonely, as Walter is busy fighting a cholera epidemic.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eKatrin falls for Jack Townsend (George Brent) from the British embassy, and the two enter into a passionate affair. Walter finds out; then Katrin is humiliated when she realizes that Jack cares more for his reputation than her and does not seem willing to get a divorce. Walter insists that she travel with him as he goes deeper into China to fight the epidemic; she realizes he just wants her to get sick and die.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGarbo is incredible in this film – warm, sweet, and flirtatious in the beginning, and rising to the dramatic challenges later, she gives a beautifully layered, sympathetic, and powerful performance. Marshall is very good, as is the rest of the cast – but Garbo just walks away with the whole thing. A very unusual presence and talent, very passionate and committed. Itu0026#39;s such a shame that she didnu0026#39;t pursue opportunities for films in Europe after the war.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlso, the Chinese atmosphere (totally MGM backlot) feels very authentic.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film ends differently from the 2006 version. Though I liked the 2006 version, it lacks the magic of this one. Magic, spelled G-a-r-b-o.”
