Two-Faced Woman [DVD] [1941] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

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.