Customer Reviews

Two Faced Woman [VHS]

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This film may look better now than it did 60 years ago. While I can't pretend to get into the mind of a 1941 viewer, I think I can see why "the official line" would go against this movie: it's a giddy comedy as bubbly effervescent as the champagne its sophisticated characters swill; there's no agenda other than to have and give a good time. So I can't go along with the fashionable types who pan this movie. Besides that, 2-Faced Woman is just flat out fun!

Come to think of it, the movie has its share of astutely observed social commentary, i.e., the extent to which people are willing to appear foolish in order to be "in" on a trend. Look no further than the ebullient, delightful supperclub sequence when Karin/Katherine who's never danced a step in her life ends up dominating the dance floor when the train of her evening gown gets caught under her slipper. She tries to stomp the bit of fabric free when a percussionist in the orchestra takes the rhythm from her lead --an absolutely joyous eruption of stomping ensues. And on the sidelines, the fools who say, "oh, yes, the Chica-Choca." Like they knew all along.

Garbo is terrific; her identity crisis is quite endearing. The ski shots are marvelously fun for snow enthusiasts. I wish there had been more time for Constance Bennett --she is priceless as the playwright/vamp; maybe its the glasses Bennett wears --those frames are back in style --that make her seem so oddly contemporary.

Summary: relax, and be transported back to a more glamorous era. We need high-class fluff like 2-Faced Woman in our times more than ever.

Greta Garbo starred in her last film at the age of thirty-six, and, it was reported, famously declared "I want to be alone" before retiring to a reclusive life spent in Manhattan, Switzerland, and the Riviera. But through the 25 films she made in America, Garbo attained the status of legend and has remained, for many film lovers, the epitome of Hollywood stardom. She was certainly one of the most intriguing, enigmatic, and beautiful women to ever grace the silver screen, and one of the few who successfully made the transition from the world of silent films to the new realities of sound pictures

On April 17th, at 2 p.m., the James Bridges Theatre at the UCLA Film and Television Archive screened George Cukor's Two-Faced Woman, the last film Greta Garbo appeared in. Many people said the film was so terrible, it was the very reason Garbo gave up her acting career. I tend to disagree. I found Two-Faced Woman funny, clever, and wildly entertaining.

The film has gotten an overly harsh criticism and is far from being an embarrassing finale to Garbo's great career like many critics have made it out to be. In fact, it gives her a carefree and likable modern role, a nice contrast to her historical tragedies of the 1930s.

Based on the stage play by Ludwig Foulds, the film is an implausible story of a woman masquerading as her seductive, but imaginary, twin sister. Garbo plays Karin Borg, a no-nonsense hotel ski instructor who has dedicated her life to skiing and has no time for love or romance. When newspaper editor Larry Blake (Melvyn Douglas, Garbo's co-star in Ninotchka) visits the resort, he is instantly smitten by Karin and arranges to take skiing lessons with her, despite having no interest in the sport. Before we know it, the two are married and the complications begin. Larry wants to return to New York, despite lying to Karin that he will stay with her at the hotel. Karin is reluctant to leave and after too many arguments, Larry returns to New York without his wife.

After too much time apart, Karin decides to surprise her husband by going to New York. She buys expensive clothes and looks her very best for him, only to hide when she sees him with his old flame, Griselda (a wonderfully bitchy turn by Constance Bennett). Wanting to leave New York without being seen, she is spotted by her father-in-law, and in an effort to get away as quickly as possible, leads him to believe that she is Katherine, Karin's twin sister.

When her father-in-law invites `Katherine' to dinner, Karin decides to get revenge on her husband. She keeps playing her `twin sister,'a sexy, man-crazy siren compared to her own quiet personality. Her plan doesn't exactly work to her benefit as her husband finds out about her act and plays along, knowing Katherine is actually his wife. Karin is heartbroken as she is led to believe that her husband is not in love with her, but loves her `twin' instead. This escalates into a hilarious finale on the ski slope, and of course, a rushed ending where the lovers embrace and everything is well again.

Two-Faced Woman, while troubled and unbelievable, still brims with hilarious dialogue and terrific performances by an outstanding cast, which includes Ruth Gordon and Roland Young. The film is terribly underrated and deserves to fair much better than its reputation allows. Definitely not Garbo's best performance, but not the tragedy it is made out to be. The audience I saw it with seemed to enjoy it, and so did I.

I realize I'm sticking my neck out in speaking in favor of this film, but I feel I must. I am nuts about Garbo. I have seen 11 of her films (nearly half) so far and while I might not rate this as the best (it's hard to argue with Queen Christina isn't it?), from the moment she begins turning into "the twin sister" in "Two Faced Woman", I find myself mesmerized by the whole mood she conjures up: humorous, whimsical, mischievious, wild abandon yet focused intent...she is oblivious to all around her and to all setbacks, wisely and foolishly at the same time. How is it that one actress can convey so much? It's just not the kind of role I've seen her play in any of the other 10 films I've seen, and that in itself is interesting to me.

I find the film pleasantly humorous in places not just because of her lines, but other actors and lines in it as well. It's a pleasant George Cukor comedy.

No I haven't read what she had to say about the film, I've only read one book about her so far, but give me time. I can't help it I like this film and she seems very happy in it, which is infectious.

It's striking to find out how many critics, especially in the past, condemn this film. Almost every biographer in every Garbo book comes up with a senseless list of accusations - including quotes from the Legion of Decency and the critics in December 1941, when America entered the war, to tell us that this film is no good. But it's a misjudgement. Garbo herself was disgusted with the criticisms.
TWO-FACED WOMAN is a lively and extremely interesting film and certainly no disgrace for Garbo. It's one of the Garbo films that fascinates me most, because it's her last one and because she plays a different kind of role (although she has frequently played a two-faced woman, like in "As you desire me" and "Ninotchka"). The story is funny with excellent bits of farce. In the two-faced character of Karin/Katharine Blake/Borg, Garbo shows many different personalities which makes it so amazing to watch. This was a new and very experienced Garbo. George Cukor told that she was in a very brilliant period at that time. However, Cukor dismissed the film in retrospect.
Unfortunately many scenes were deleted, but the uncensored version still exists, it was shown at the George Cukor retrospective in London in 2004.
The film grossed $1.8 million and it wasn't really a huge flop, it was a modest success, especially in Europe after the war.
"Two-faced woman" was destined to be Garbo's last film, as she predictably says: "In this harsh new world there's no place for me anymore".

"Almost as frightful as seeing your mother drunk!!" cried one critic when asked to comment on Garbo's last film "Two Faced Woman",upon its initial release. Forever branded as the flop that drove the legendary Greta Garbo into permanent retirement, I tend to believe that is an overly harsh criticism of a pleasant and at times amusing little romp. Far from being an embarrassing finale to the great Garbo's career, it in fact gives her a carefree and likeable modern role to pay which is a nice contrast to her great historical tragedies of the 1930's. Volumnes have been written about this films effect on Garbo's career, and the reasons why she retired straight after it and never returned to filmmaking. Apart from the well known fact that her main box office market in Europe was cut off due to the war,I feel quite simply that Garbo saw it was time to move on and as she said to friend David Niven in one conversation on why she retired at the peak of her beauty and success, "I have made enough faces now". So the mysterious Garbo left Hollywood and her enduring legend was born. "Two faced Woman", may not be the greatest comedy ever made but it shows a Garbo very much at home in a chic modern setting and never has she been more beautiful and vivacious than in this role which should have opened the door for more lighthearted heroines for her to play in the early 1940's.

Despite the arguments about Garbo's "Americanisation", for this role much of the film has a European feel to it and she actually plays a Swedish character (s) in this at times unlikely story of a woman masquerading as her seductive twin sister which was based on a stage play by Ludwig Foulds. Garbo plays Karin Borg a non nonsense ski instructor who lives for skiing and has no time for love or romance. When Newspaper editor Larry Blake (Melvyn Douglas), visits the resort he is instantly smitten by Karin and arranges, despite having no interest in the sport, to take private ski lessons from her. Larry's charm obviously works on the cold Karin as before the day is out the pair are married however all is not smooth sailing as in their haste to wed both really haven't taken the time to get to know each other. When Larry wants to return to New York with collegue O.O. Miller (Roland Young), and his secretary Ruth Ellis (Ruth Gordon), Karin is reluctant to leave as she was led to believe that they would live at the resort. Refusing to move after many arguments Larry returns without her and begins doing all the top spots in town with ever eager playwright Griselda Vaughn (Constance Bennett), who just also happens to be an old flame with Larry firmly still in her sights. Karin meanwhile begins to see that she needs to try and make her marriage work by meeting Larry half way so she travels to New York, buys a whole new wardrobe of lavish clothes and jewellery and prepares to meet up with Larry. Going to the theatre however Karin sees Larry getting very chummy with Griselda and when Ruth Ellis refers to Karin as her twin sister Katherine to get her past O.O. Miller's eagle eye, Karin decides to test the devotion of her husband by continuing the charade of being her seductive twin "sister". Meeting up with Larry and Griselda at a nightclub Karin playing the role of the carefree Katherine to the hilt not only has all the men wildly chasing after her and joining in as she does a spare of the moment Rhumba dance but she arouses Larry's interest in this vastly different twin sister of his wife. Of course she encounters a real rival in Griselda who sees her position with Larry threatened by this brazen interloper. Larry however has his doubts about whether this "Katherine", is a different person to his wife and when he rings the ski lodge to check he finds that surprise of surprises that Karin had already left to go to New York. Larry now turns the tables on Karin and her little game by pretending to be in love with "Katherine", and wanting to leave Karin for her. After Larry wants to take "Katherine", up to the Ski lodge to have it out with her sister Karin, Karin realises she is now in real trouble as obviously both "sisters", can't possible be in the same place at the same time. Only when the real identities of the sisters are revealed can then Karin and Larry really begin to know and love each other and begin a proper marriage.

Dismissed by the critics as a vehicle unworthy of Garbo this film also amazingly ran into trouble with the Legion of Decency in its previews over its treatment of the institution of marriage which raised the blood pressure of studio head Louis B. Mayer who prided himself on the high moral "standards", maintained at MGM. Reteamed with her "Ninotchka", co star Melvyn Douglas Garbo couldn't hope to top that great earlier collaboration but she makes the most of this effort with a surprising flare for light hearted comedy. I believe Garbo has her single most glamourous moment in a modern dress role during her much talked about Rhumba number. Here she is all fun and grace superbly gowned by designer Adrian in the last of their legendary collaborations on screen. Constance Bennett fresh from her earlier successes in the "Topper", movies more than holds her own against Garbo with a delightful performance as the bespeckled and sarcastic old flame of Larry's who sees this mysterious Katherien as a serious rival in her pursuit of Larry. Melvyn Douglas does the best he can with what is in reality a not terribly likeable character but as in most George Cukor directed efforts it is the women who are first and foremost the centre of attention. Garbo, reteaming with Cukor again after their triumph in the tragic drama "Camille", Constance Bennett and Ruth Gordon in an early role really handle the comic stakes expertly here. As in most romantic comedies no mention is made of the looming outside world events and "Two Faced Woman", is one of those happy "neverland" comic romps that dont seem to be taking place in any particular time period. Certainly Garbo took some risks with this role and it says much for her confidence in George Cukor's skill that this shy star consented not only to the Rhumba number but even a swimming pool scene and a chase on skis.

A total disaster? I think the jury will always be out on whether "Two Faced Woman", really finished off Garbo's illustrious career. I believe the film's main value is still in its displaying of Garbo in a different type of role from what we are used to seeing. She more than proves her ability to be light hearted and fun filled here and it shows her great diversity as an actress regardless of the critical view held of this particular film. Garbo had the all too rare good sense like her MGM collegue Norma Shearer to leave acting with her looks and stardom intact so that her legendary screen image has continued to this day unaltered from that time. Luckily there were no later roles as axe murderers or deranged grandmothers performed in failed comebacks by Garbo, instead we have the sight of a carefree and totally gorgeous 36 year old Garboa performing an off the cuff Rhumba in "Two faced Woman",as her last image on screen. I think most people would agree that it's an image that could be far worse. No critical masterpiece, "Two Faced Woman", is still an enjoyable light romp that all Garbo fans need to include in any retrospective viewing of this gifted actresses work. Enjoy!

This was one of the first Garbo films I saw. I've since seen most of her MGM releases, and her German film. This film compares very favorably with most of the others, I'm sad to say, since I admire Garbo tremendously, and believe she deserved better. I would place this film in my favorite 5 Garbo films.
The plot is a little silly, as is Ninotchka in places, but it doesn't appear any sillier than other hits of the period, like the Thin Man series. The film is about entertainment, not reality, and scores big.

Many attribute Garbo's retirement to the "bad" quality of this, her last film. I disagree. Her letters indicate that Garbo was profoundly unhappy with MGM and her choice of roles as early as 1932, when she mentions quitting. She is quoted by one of her later friends as saying Two Faced Woman wasn't any worse than most pictures of the time, and she supposedly said it had nothing to do with her retirement.

Its a vibrant, healthy Garbo who bursts on the scene as Karin, the ski-instructor. Her ski-scenes, as well as the bathing-suit scene, underscore the fact that Garbo is still a young, beautiful woman, only 36 years old. I enjoy the bickering between Garbo & Douglas, who seem like married folk.

Many credit her female on-stage rival, but Garbo more than keeps up - she rules! The dance scene, displaying some fine stepping for one not known as a dancer, is my favorite, and her accidental "invention" of the new dance is nothing short of hilarity - pure comedy - which it turns out was Garbo's hidden talent for so long.

If you're looking for pure entertainment by one of the all-time greats in films, this movie will not disappoint. Its a fine ending to an incomparable career.

Okay, Garbo fans, we know the sad story of how this was the nail in the coffin of Garbo's Hollywood career but that was then and this is now so let us for a moment reassess...

Given that Ninotchka is her best role (sssh don't argue!) BECAUSE in it she does more than pose and mope but actually comes to life with a sparkle and a laugh, this may be her next-best role, or at least, contain some of her best bits.

The La Chica Chaka dance number ... in which Garbo, who says she does not dance but with professionals, and who doesn't dance... creates a sensation on the dance floor due to a heel caught in her hem, is one of the most wonderful bits of cinema magic ever. Indeed, as a send up of all of those "make it up as we go along" Fred and Ginger numbers, it is a hoot, and the dancing is pretty darn spiffy, too. Everything combines to make it a show stopper.

As Griselda, Constance Bennett is fabulous, her catty remarks and the ladies' lounge scream are priceless.

Melvyn Douglas is not as successful here as in their other costarring role but he is more or less the straight man to Garbo's frivolity.

If you want the dying swan Garbo, by all means watch GRAND HOTEL, but if you want to see her as a real live 20th Century woman, and no doubt the character closest to her own personality, then this is the film.

If you want to see Garbo in something other than death & destruction then this is the one. Just a light comedy of boy meets girl, boy marries girl, then boy forgets about girl! A nice change of pace for Garbo, but don't expect screwball antics, it's still Garbo!

I loved this film, I was expecting the worst considering everyone says it's really bad, but I was surprised! It's really good, and Garbo is marvelous in it! Highly recommended!

Hot on the heels of her success in Ninotchka, Greta Garbo is back for another lighthearted comedy complete with Garbo's smile. Karin (Garbo) is a ski instructor whose simple life is a contented one. When Lawrence Blake (Melvyn Douglas) arrives, he instantly requests private lessons with her, but he has more than skiing on his mind. The two elope, but in their haste, they have not learned enough about each other to determine their compatibility. It turns out Larry plans to take his new bride to New York, but Karin has no intentions of leaving her happy life.

So Larry goes to New York and Karin stays home. And in spite of promises of his impending return, Larry spends months without his new wife. She decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to New York to surprise her husband. Her plans are dashed, though, when she spots him making eyes at another woman (Constance Bennett). Forced to think quickly, she impersonates her nonexistent twin sister Katharine and tempts Larry away from his mistress.

A delightful comedy, Two Faced Woman turned out to be Garbo's last film. This movie bombed at the box office and its failure made Garbo rethink her career. I cannot for the life of me figure out why the film didn't do well. It does not have the witty dialogue that Ninotchka does, but the mood is very much the same.

Incidentally, the big dance scene is titled the "Chica Choca" which in Spanish means "Girl I Hate."