Anna Christie (1930)

With the dawn of the 1930s talking pictures were all the rage in Hollywood. Now audiences got to listen to the story unfold on screens as well as watch them. But what was to happen to all the silent actors that now had to learn to talk on camera? Would they make an easy transition or bomb and fade into history as a shadowy figure of the past pushing them to the backs of audience's memories? Now the masses would get a whole new thrill on their way to the cinema filled with glorious sound. The film Anna Christie is a story of just one of those great silent stars, Greta Garbo, and her transition from silent beauty to all-talking star. Not only is the movie about a young lady trying to set a new course in her life, but also a story of a major movie studio, MGM, preparing for the major change in the way they would make movies ushering in the decade that would make MGM king of all Hollywood.

Before Anna Christie was a Garbo film, it was a play by by a man named Eugene O'Neil. The play was a success that would be produced many times, and so much so that it would be produced into a silent movie in 1923 by First National Pictures, a production company that would one day merge into Warner Brothers. It was in the late 20s that MGM was looking for a vehicle to transition their silent star Greta Garbo, who stole the show in many of silent pictures with her looks, into a the realm of talking pictures. The major hurdle for MGM and Garbo was the fact that she was Swedish and had a noticeable accent. The studio would keep her out of talking films as she went to elocution classes to eliminate her accent. MGM also decided on the story of Anna Christie as a perfect film for her to enter as a speaking actress as the character was Swedish and an accent was very acceptable for the role as Anna. There was one small problem, being Garbo lost too much of her accent and would be made to take multiple shots to make her "more Swedish." Other than that Garbo would make her talking debut as she made a perfect transition from silent to talking star. "Garbo Talks!" would be the simple phrase used to allure audiences to go to the movies to see one of its most visually stunning stars speak for the first time. It is almost like seeing a young toddler speak his first words as the film builds to the moment Garbo open her mouth.

The movie is a rather slow tale that follows the original four act play very closely. Here we see the story of Anna, a twenty year old daughter of a barge sailor, who returns to her father after being sent to live on a farm fifteen years prior. Her father Chris Christofferson (George M. Mariom) wants nothing but the best for his little girl which he feels is a life far from him, especially keeping her away from the life of living on the sea, especially from the men, but she ends up falling for an Irish sailor named Matt Burke (Charles Bickford). The two men lock horns for what they believe is best for Anna as they both want to take care of her on their terms. As the two men quarrel over the care of Anna she becomes fed up releasing the awful truths of her past being raped while on the farm she was sent to live on and becoming a prostitute which made her run to her father in search of a new, good life, but is met with more men that want to control her life as seen with Chris and Matt. Despite initial issues with her confession Matt proclaims he still wants to marry Anna and Chris feels very bad for not being there for Anna growing up. Despite these two sailors are tied to the sea by way of life they promise to come home to Anna for their love will keep them together.

The film struggles with pace, as the story was written as a play and meant to be performed on a stage. The cinematography is rather simple, much like any early silent picture. There are the growing pains of the silent-to-talking transfer including a few title cards letting the audience know the setting and the passage of time, a device that would not last in the talking age of film. Garbo does not struggle at all with her speech throughout the film. In fact she does very well bring the audience into the story of her character. He deep voice and accent makes her more alluring and interesting to watch then her silent self. On occasion you see her fall into the hand gestures of a silent film actor, but that is few and not too awkward. She carries the story with the struggle of young Anna.

The film supplies us with a great looking into the America of roughly 1929/30. We see Manhattan as the charaters sail down the East River past the Brooklyn Bridge. We also get a look into Coney island with its games, the famous Cyclone rollercoaster, as well as the social life of a young (and not too well off) person in New York at that time. A small time capsule for those looking into that time in history.

Despite today's modern view that the film can be seen as a bit slow, the picture was a success. Anna Christie not only made financial gain, but transition one of MGM's stars to the new age in film, and would even be recognized by critics at that time. The film would be nominated for three Oscars, including Garbo for best actress, Clarence Brown for best director, and (despite being actually dull) best cinematography for William Daniels. MGM even simultaneously produced a German speaking version of the film and helped boost the box office receipts with the extra appeal with Garbo speaking her native tongue. All in all Anna Christie would do what it needed to do in keeping Great Garbo a star in the stable of actors for MGM for years to come.