Flesh and the Devil

Garbo is Garbae

Some amazing cinematography from Daniels and expert direction by Brown. But holy crap the performances in this are next level Garbo and Gilbert

Bros before Garbos

Among the all time great silents. The cinematography is ahead of its time and the two leads have fantastic chemistry, making for a sizzling and beautiful tragic romance.

sigara, duello, garbo, felicitas yazilari

Gilbert should have steered clear of Garbo, the two do not belong on the same screen, she was like a curse to him. Gilbert had some good stuff going for him, even in this movie, but then Garbo comes on screen and saps every thing up.

A grandiose take on the "promising life sidetracked by sexual obsession" theme that fueled so many dramas in the 20s. It's best remembered for the romance scenes where Garbo left her first big impression on audiences (and John Gilbert, apparently). It's also a memorably formative moment in Hollywood's love affair with cigarettes as a convenient sexual metaphor. Personally, though, it was the creative cinematography and gorgeous matte shots that kept my attention through a rather long 2 hours.

Great chemistry between all of the cast members and beautiful cinematography.

Forgettable romancer, if i wasn't for the camerawork and the Garbo appeal. The silhouette duel, the dolly to the crutching hand over Garbo's infidelity, among the several grand camera moments.

Pure silent melodrama, this is a well put together film that still mostly works, though elements are dated. Garbo shines, playing a character who is at least thematically presented as evil, though the character herself doesn't seem to be (at least by any modern definition.) This is one of the dated elements. Garbo's chemistry with Gilbert is admirable. The silhouette duel is a memorable image. An enjoyable watch.

"My Boy, when the devil cannot reach us through the spirit... He creates a woman beautiful enough to reach us through the flesh." Garbo isn't just a femme fatale, the devil disguised as a woman.