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      As You Desire Me

      Released May 28, 1932 1h 11m Drama List
      86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 54% Audience Score 100+ Ratings An amnesiac Italian countess (Greta Garbo) becomes a singer with a cruel lover (Erich von Stroheim), then reunites with her husband (Melvyn Douglas). Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Variety Staff Variety A romantic problem play interestingly played by the fascinating Greta Garbo, treated in a manner of high drama. The original hasn't been broadly hoked in the manner that Metro has so often followed. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Garbo (sporting a peroxide wig some of the time) brings a real erotic undertow to the love scenes, while Stroheim is terrific as the demonically sadistic writer trying to model her as one of his own creations. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times [Garbo] rises far above the story as it comes to the screen, but because of her impeccable performance the picture never fails to captivate one's interest. Jan 28, 2006 Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine As You Desire Me, through the mystic quality in the Pirandello story, brought out the best in Garbo. Apr 21, 2020 Full Review TV Guide A bizarre, always fascinating film with two of the world's most intriguing characters -- Garbo and von Stroheim -- who square off in histrionic battle. Rated: 3/4 Sep 16, 2014 Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times It may be slow moving and a shade creaky today, but this Greta Garbo vehicle positively smoulders, and contains some of the most overt sensuality you're likely to see in a Hollywood movie of the period. Rated: 3/4 Sep 16, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Steve D Keeps you guessing until the last min. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/16/23 Full Review Audience Member its got garbo its somewhat confusing Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A concise film version of Pirandello's intellectually interesting, but otherwise grossly overwritten play. Von Stroheim gives one of his rare sound film performances, with Garbo having helped him with his stuttering on the set. Garbo is Garbo, a woman who could be anybody, and in this sense, this is her quintessential role. The film was made in a hurry to take advantage of her soon-to-be expiring contract, and suffers somewhat from the rush, but remain reliable viewing thanks to its star and Nobel-winning source material. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review bill t Since I don't like Greta Garbo films, I had very low expectations of 'As You Desire Me'. But I was actually quite surprised at how entertained I was at this ludicrous tale of amnesia and the power of love overcoming it! Melvyn Douglas stars here as a Prince whose inheritance of a missing wife's estate will go to his sister, unless his missing wife is found, pronto. Because of this, he sends out his best friend to search for her, ending up in a sleazy bar trying to fend Garbo off from plenty of amorous suitors. Oh, and Erich Von Streinheim.. After convincing her to go off with him and re-meet her husband she honestly can't remember (she's had amnesia you see), she's off to the estate of Melvyn Douglas, who's simply thrilled with the reunion, and willing to forget little things that don't quite add up, like Garbo not remembering a thing, or how her eye color has changed. Garbo isn't convinced either, but she falls in love with him anyways. Ahh, but Eric Von Stronheim isn't too easily fooled, she knows where the actual missing wife is! Which is somewhat hilarious, I mean, why would he know that? Pretty soon, they all gather for one hooty finale which doesn't really resolve anything, but at the end, I didn't care, because I was guffawing at just how OUT THERE this was. Mevyn Douglas and Greta Garbo were okay I suppose, with Garbo still doing her mad theatrical hand gestures all over the place. But the performance here goes to Eric Von Stronheim, who's just great as Garbo's past companion willing to fight to bring her back. And get a load of those costumes! Whoa! What was Adrian smoking on the set? Love the little Cap without a lid number Garbo is wearing at the outset.. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Very melodramatic early Greta Garbo talkie does benefit from her presence. She does have an amazing screen aura. The story is far fetched and a bit hokey though. Still worth watching, if nothing else for the cast. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member good stuff from Garbo Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      As You Desire Me

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis An amnesiac Italian countess (Greta Garbo) becomes a singer with a cruel lover (Erich von Stroheim), then reunites with her husband (Melvyn Douglas).
      Director
      George Fitzmaurice
      Screenwriter
      Gene Markey, Luigi Pirandello
      Production Co
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 28, 1932, Original
      Runtime
      1h 11m