First of all, to Garbo fans, though «Berling» is the film that launched Greta Garbo's career, it is NOT a Garbo movie. Indeed, even in the restored full 3-hour DVD version, GG is not seen very often except at the end. Her part, though, becomes a pivotal one as the film progresses.
I must say that, though rarely seen, GG is good in her part and is acting with subtlety compared to most of the other actors. The soulful quality of her acting that she'll be known for is already there. She has a very sensible and touching character to play and we SO wish that her Countess Dohnna will be the one ending with Gösta Berling.
GG is already beautiful though not as drop-dead gorgeous as she would become in future films. But we soon forget her for a long while in that overlong and dull movie (until 30 minutes before the end when the movie suddenly BELONGS to her only), especially because Gerda Lundeqvist is really the one who shines and stoles the pictures.
Gerda Lundeqvist acts naturally and with depths. She does not hesitate to look worn-out, even ugly. She's totally into her part. She's a neo-realistic actress 25 years before neo-realism would be introduced in Italian movies! She really is, to me, probably the only reason to see this movie.
Now, Lars Hanson...he may have been known for his great profile and good looks, but, as an actor, I find him to be a typical actor of that era. Those big dramatic and quite ineffective gestures, this rolling of the eyes, the white face like Valentino as if he's been powdered...Under all of this, he WAS handsome and we can see he has classical features, but, seeing him in that movie, one wonders how women could fall one after another for his Gösta Berling character! See him in «Flesh And The Devil» instead; in it, he's much more handsome and we're even treated with a nice and welcome shirtless scene where we can clearly see how well built and gorgeous he really was.
As for his acting talent, it is impossible for me to have an opinion based on this movie. In it, he's just, to me, another example of a badly outdated performer. Perhaps was he better on stage as he was also a theater actor...Anyway...
The film itself is overlong, boring and hard to swallow today. I watched it 30 minutes at a time over several days! That's the only way I could sit through the whole movie! I usually don't mind silent movies, but this one is simply not good. Period.
It has almost no plot. The little it has in that department goes nowhere. The Winter setting is depressing and rather reminds the early Luis Trenker or Leni Riefenstahl movies WITHOUT the action! It may be beautiful to look at to some, because of the numerous exterior shots and especially considering it's been filmed almost 90 years ago, but one gets bored of beauty very fast when there's nothing else! How could Mauritz Stiller become such a celebrated director in his time if all he did were movies like this one? Tough question...
Anyway, see it if you like epic dramas or if you are a Garbo devotee but, otherwise, you can easily live without it! P.S. Two stars only: one for GG and one Gerda L.
I must say that, though rarely seen, GG is good in her part and is acting with subtlety compared to most of the other actors. The soulful quality of her acting that she'll be known for is already there. She has a very sensible and touching character to play and we SO wish that her Countess Dohnna will be the one ending with Gösta Berling.
GG is already beautiful though not as drop-dead gorgeous as she would become in future films. But we soon forget her for a long while in that overlong and dull movie (until 30 minutes before the end when the movie suddenly BELONGS to her only), especially because Gerda Lundeqvist is really the one who shines and stoles the pictures.
Gerda Lundeqvist acts naturally and with depths. She does not hesitate to look worn-out, even ugly. She's totally into her part. She's a neo-realistic actress 25 years before neo-realism would be introduced in Italian movies! She really is, to me, probably the only reason to see this movie.
Now, Lars Hanson...he may have been known for his great profile and good looks, but, as an actor, I find him to be a typical actor of that era. Those big dramatic and quite ineffective gestures, this rolling of the eyes, the white face like Valentino as if he's been powdered...Under all of this, he WAS handsome and we can see he has classical features, but, seeing him in that movie, one wonders how women could fall one after another for his Gösta Berling character! See him in «Flesh And The Devil» instead; in it, he's much more handsome and we're even treated with a nice and welcome shirtless scene where we can clearly see how well built and gorgeous he really was.
As for his acting talent, it is impossible for me to have an opinion based on this movie. In it, he's just, to me, another example of a badly outdated performer. Perhaps was he better on stage as he was also a theater actor...Anyway...
The film itself is overlong, boring and hard to swallow today. I watched it 30 minutes at a time over several days! That's the only way I could sit through the whole movie! I usually don't mind silent movies, but this one is simply not good. Period.
It has almost no plot. The little it has in that department goes nowhere. The Winter setting is depressing and rather reminds the early Luis Trenker or Leni Riefenstahl movies WITHOUT the action! It may be beautiful to look at to some, because of the numerous exterior shots and especially considering it's been filmed almost 90 years ago, but one gets bored of beauty very fast when there's nothing else! How could Mauritz Stiller become such a celebrated director in his time if all he did were movies like this one? Tough question...
Anyway, see it if you like epic dramas or if you are a Garbo devotee but, otherwise, you can easily live without it! P.S. Two stars only: one for GG and one Gerda L.