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15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :- Garbo dances the rumba!, 1 June 2005 Author: jotix100 from New York
Greta Garbo, the mythical actress was last seen on the screen in this comedy. As directed by George Cukor, the film has its rewards for the fans of Ms. Garbo. The film, based on German playwright Ludwig Fulda, was adapted by some of the best screen writers of the time: S.N. Behrman, Saska Viertel and George Oppenheimer.Mr. Cukor, an intelligent director probably miscalculated the effect this film would have on the viewers more used to a dramatic Garbo, who in here is made to lighten up. At times, Ms. Garbo seems to be on the right track to find a way to play the dual role of Karin/Katherine and appears to be having a good time playing the twins. Mr. Cukor was not able to erase some of the mannerisms for which the Swedish diva was famous for.The basic problem with the film is the quick transformation of the ski instructor, Karin Borg, into the wife of the dashing and debonair Lawrence Blake. Perhaps if this aspect would have been exploited a bit more, the film would have taken a different tone. Not only are we surprised by the rapid change of the strong Karin into being relegated to being a second banana by marrying Larry.The most interesting character from the film is Griselda Vaughn, Larry's former girlfriend who learns he has suddenly married a nobody, leaving her to fend for herself. Griselda is too smart to accept the situation. As played by Constance Bennett, she is one of the best things in the movie.Melvyn Douglas' Larry is also excellent. He tries hard to convey this man who is used to be among sophistication and style. That's what makes it a bit hard to accept this man would settle with a woman that is attracted to a permanent winter state of mind. Ruth Gordon is good as the secretary that befriends Karin and conspires with her. Roland Young and Robert Sterling are seen in small roles.The famous dance scene with Katherine, the twin sister, starts awkwardly, but Ms. Garbo proved she could hold her own against the partner that guides her around the night club's floor. Robert Alton has a tough time following Katherine."Two Faced Woman" might not have been Greta Garbo's best, but it not a total disappointment either. This film should be seen because it was her last film.
18 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- The goddess comes down to earth, 20 September 2006 Author: blanche-2 from United States
Screen icon Greta Garbo was nearing the age of 36 when she began filming "Two-Faced Woman," a comedy also starring Melvyn Douglas, Constance Bennett, Roland Young, and Ruth Gordon. The world was changing, and it was time for her to come off of her queenly throne, get out of those huge Adrian costumes, and join the land of the common people. Back in those days, when an actress hit the 30-35 range, she was considered over the hill. Crawford was shown the door by Louis B., Norma Shearer smartly retired, and Garbo's costar in this movie, Constance Bennett, at 37 was playing supporting roles after years of stardom.So in fact, Garbo's days at MGM were probably numbered as the studio sought to find her a new image. Unfortunately, her new image - in a light, fluffy comedy - coincided with the entrance of the U.S. into World War II. Everyone was too distracted to care, including Garbo, who wanted to go home to Sweden.I come at this film with a slightly different perspective, having transcribed hundreds of hours of Garbo's phone conversations with art dealer Sam Greene for the book "Garbo" by Barry Paris. Any exposure to Garbo the woman is enough to realize that she was a remarkable artist. Though a neurotic, passive, and frightened woman, her beauty and vivid imagination, born of isolation, made her a tremendous star and a great, expressive actress.In "Two-Faced Woman," Garbo plays a dual role, that of a nature-loving ski instructor, Karin, who marries a guest (Melvyn Douglas) at the lodge where she works, and the twin sister whose existence she fakes, the globe-trotting party girl Katherine. Katherine is invented when Karin comes to New York and sees her new husband with his former girlfriend (Bennett)."Two-Faced Woman" isn't a great movie - it's pleasant enough, and the cast is terrific, but it suffers from bad timing and the fact that this was such a departure for Garbo. Many people didn't feel it was a particularly successful one. She actually is quite good, particularly in the nightclub scene when she dances the chica-choca, a dance Katherine makes up when her shoe catches in the hem of her dress. In real life, whenever the dance instructor arrived at Garbo's house to give her lessons, the curtains were drawn. Knocking at the door, he would hear Garbo yell, "Go away, rumba! Go away!" Nevertheless, she acquits herself delightfully throughout the scene, culminating with the dance. The other thing that is marvelous in the film is the wild skiing scene at the end - absolutely tremendous, and I'm surprised it didn't kill the stunt double.The film was controversial because the character of Larry seduces a woman he thinks is his sister-in-law, so the script was changed to be more acceptable. A scene was inserted where Larry calls the ski lodge and learns that Karin is out of town. Realizing Katherine is Karin, he plays along, turning the tables on her. It seems like a silly change now."Two-Faced Woman" was not the flop the years have built it up to be; in fact, it made back 5 times its budget. And it's highly unlikely it ended Greta Garbo's career. Had things worked out, she would have returned to films after the war - in fact, she almost did. But when the funding for the proposed film fell through, she was embarrassed, humiliated, and being the kind of woman she was, never took a chance to be put in such a position again. Garbo was part of a world that ended when the bombs started dropping, and she didn't find her place in the one that emerged.
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :- I don't care what anyone thinks!!!!, 21 April 2008 Author: bnbelias718 from United States
Every time someone mentions this film, they say something bad about it. It wasn't the best movie but I enjoyed it thoroughly. She had my attention through the whole film. I thought Garbo was way more interesting in this film than both Constance Bennett & Melvyn Douglas. Good film. I wish I still owned it and I would watch it right now!!! I love how radical she becomes when she pretends to be her "twin" sister. Melvyn Douglas was an alright character and so too Bennett, but I thought Garbo's last performance was great and I would like for this movie to get more credit. If anyone enjoys Garbo they should enjoy this film or you are just simply not that big of a Garbo fan. That's how i see it. The mysterious lady treats us with a few funny laughs. Like when she gets drunk. Not as funny as she was in Ninotchka though. Long Live Garbo!
6 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :- Garbo Stumbles, 24 September 2006 Author: krorie from Van Buren, Arkansas
The legends surrounding Geta Garbo were like so many deifications, partly true, partly fiction. When Garbo was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was only average. In "Two-Faced Woman," Garbo assays comedy one more time following her success in Ernst Lubitsch's classic farce, "Ninotchka." This time she nearly falls flat. Garbo's one redeeming feature in the film is the outlandish dance she performs midway through the show. It is indeed a marvel to behold and worth the price of admission.Almost all the other Thespians in "Two-Faced Woman" out shine the star, especially Constance Bennett, giving a wonderful personification of an acerbic bitch determined to keep her hooks in fresh meat. The gifted actor Melvyn Douglas shows his flare for comedy in a Cary Grant-type role, fun to watch in a slap-stick finale down a ski slope. The indomitable Ruth Gordon makes the most in a small role as Douglas' secretary. Bennett's former "Topper" colleague, Roland Young, is perfect as, again, a lecherous old man. Future TV "Topper" star Robert Sterling shows why he was chosen to portray George Kerby over a decade later.Another problem with "Two-Faced Woman" is the hackneyed story and script. Director George Cukor hoped to strike pay dirt a second time with a screwball comedy along the lines of his brilliant "The Philadelphia Story," utilizing a title similar to his recently successful "A Woman's Face." Unfortunately, he was let down by the writers, who gave him a theme already old hat. Bedroom farces involving mistaken identities, twins and lookalikes, etc., were passé by 1941. The popular Fred Astair, Ginger Rogers musicals of the 1930's employed such gimmicks in a fresh and original manner. The twins ploy of "Two-Faced Woman" just doesn't work.Karin Borg (Garbo), a ski instructor, meets and falls in love with Larry Blake (Douglas), a magazine writer. Following a whirlwind courtship that lasts only a few days, the two decide to tie the knot. Once married, however, their varied lifestyles clash. Larry spends most of his time in New York City away from Karin, who refuses to follow him, enjoying the life she already has. Distraught by visions of being two-timed and having her marriage canned, Karin heads for New York City, ending up incognito as her non-existing twin sister, Katherine. That Larry tends to be a philander becomes more evident as Karin sees her husband with other women, one in particular, Griselda Vaughn (Bennett). Katherine finds herself in the dubious position of competing not only against Griselda but against her own alter ego, Karin.Perhaps the shortcomings of "Two-Faced Woman" helped Garbo in deciding to retire from motion pictures. She never made another film. Though "Two-Faced Woman" is not a dud, it is below standards Garbo had set for herself.
11 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :- Garbo's Last Film A Dud, 6 July 2006 Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States
The story is a little slow and a little stupid. Greta Garbo doesn't look very good and I couldn't understand half the things she said because of her accent, which was exaggerated for this role. Melvyn Douglas, meanwhile, plays his normal unlikeable role and Constance Bennett is just so-so except for a couple of her screams, which were funny. On the plus side, Roland Young had the best role in the film. I wish he had more lines, as he disappeared in the second half of the story. Also, it was interesting to see Ruth Gordon look so young. I had only seen her in those crazy roles she played from the late '60s to the '80s and a whacked out old woman. Story-wise, the best part might have been the final few minutes when we see a stunt man doing amazing things on skis, pretending to be Douglas falling down the slopes. That was amazing and humorous footage.Overall, I can see where this film - Garbo's last - was not a box-office success. It just drags too much, going on and on about deceptions. It's an annoying story. Garbo knew it, too, and called it quits.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- Garbo Gets Plastered And Rumbas, 18 September 2009 Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
Two Faced Woman became the unexpected swan song for screen legend Greta Garbo. Though her reasons for retirement had to do with the umbrage she took at getting less than stellar reviews for this comedy, still I've always respected that she made her retirement stick for 49 years and kept her legend and image intact.Garbo's a Swedish ski instructor who lands magazine executive Melvyn Douglas on a skiing vacation. But away from the winter wonderland, Garbo's not being quite the wife Douglas expected.Catching Douglas in a compromising position with former flame Constance Bennett, sends Greta on the warpath. She concocts a plan to masquerade as her twin sister, her more glamorous and sexy twin. Suffice it to say, she confuses the rest of the cast for almost the rest of the film.Garbo's playing a role better suited to such comedy veterans as Myrna Loy or Irene Dunne. Still she gets a few laughs in, getting plastered and doing a mean rumba. And she certainly puts Constance Bennett down quite nicely.Still Greta was miscast and the film gets less than stellar reviews from the critics at the time and from me. But the legend lives on.
4 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- Good though silly comedy IF NOT judged as a Garbo vehicle, 18 May 2005 Author: ellaf from Canada
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Just like the duality of the title, one can see that movie two ways: as a piece of the Garbo filmography or as one of the many comedies of the forties.As the former, it is rather disappointing. Gone is the mystique of the actress, gone are the looks too. Gone is the depth and on and on and on... Garbo is clearly ill at ease in this, and I mean Garbo, not her character! What happened? A bad direction? Impossible with Cukor! A bad script? Not as bad as it has been said. I don't know...perhaps Garbo was really not ready to plunge in another film at the time. All I know is that Constance Bennett stole the movie, period. Good for her. So, it is not that Garbo is bad in it, but she just had us get used to much more from her with all her previous efforts.As the latter, Two-Faced Woman is a good comedy. When one is able to forget the usual mystique of Garbo in all her previous work, one has a great time watching this movie. Douglas character's attraction and subsequent love for the «sisters» may be irritating to some, but it can also «get you hot under the collar» as the English say! All in good taste, I precise. One only wishes his character wouldn't know the trick his wife is playing on him. More than Garbo uneasiness in her part, THAT is the main flaw of the movie. And one also wishes a more handsome leading man for Garbo! Before that movie, she already have had that Melvyn Douglas twice! Besides his good voice, Douglas was rather plain-looking though not a bad actor.Anyway, as for every Garbo movie, it is worth watching. And what better way to judge a movie than seeing it for oneself?
Not As Bad As Its Rep, 30 September 2009 Author: Michael_Elliott from Louisville, KY
Two-Faced Woman (1941) ** 1/2 (out of 4) At the age of 36 screen legend Greta Garbo made this MGM comedy, which tried to take her out of the costume drama and place her into a present time comedy. The results were a disaster when the film was first released and depending on which myth you believe, the bad reaction caused Garbo to retire. I've heard a lot of bad things about this film but in the end it isn't nearly as bad as its reputation. In the film Garbo plays a ski instructor who ends up marrying a man (Melvyn Douglas) after a few hours. Later that night he demands she follow him to NYC but she refuses. As time goes on the husband stays away but Garbo decides to go after him only pretending to be her vamp twin sister. This certainly isn't the greatest comedy ever made but it's not nearly as bad as some would make you believe. Yes, Garbo certainly isn't herself here but I really don't see that as a bad thing because seeing her like this is at least interesting. Seeing her smile, act drunk, playing love able and this type of thing isn't exactly what she's known for but I found her act to be quite charming even if that thick accent came off not working too well here. She also struggles during a few scenes but you can't deny that she's giving it her all as she works her way through the material. Douglas manages to be quite pleasant and ends up delivering a fine comic performance. Supporting players Constance Bennett, Roland Young and Robert Sterling turn in some fine work as well. Another plus was some of the subject matter, which certainly wasn't seen in too many films after the Hayes Office went into effect seven years earlier. The stuff is hidden behind the "marriage" but it's still fairly risqué for its time. Apparently the version currently being shown is the "cut" version missing four minutes and alternating one of the subplots. Either way, this film is a minor entertainment but those expecting something great should probably stick to Garbo's earlier films.
3 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :- Garbo delightful in double-role swan song, but the film is poor, 17 September 2001 Author: Arne Andersen (aandersen@landmarkcollege.org) from Putney, VT
This is a lame comedy using the stale old plot of one spouse masquerading as another to test the fidelity of the other spouse. It goes back to Mozart's COSI FAN TUTTI and appeared in film in THE GUARDSMAN and its musical version THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER as well as representing the distaff side in THE AWFUL TRUTH and here in TWO-FACED WOMAN. Garbo is a delight as the "naughty" twin sister, Katherine, and plays it up to the hilt, showing as she did in NINOTCHKA what a good comedienne she could be if asked. Her timing is marvelous. She is again paired with Melvyn Douglas, her third pairing- making him her most frequent pairing in talkies. The plot suffers from many holes. Having Douglas "know" she is masquerading from his first scene with her takes away all the fun and negates the double/triple entendres inherent in the plot device. Add to that the fact that Douglas' character is thoroughly obnoxious and you remove any interest in a resolution of the romantic pairing as well as questioning Garbo's character. There are also script errors - Ruth Gordon calls Katharine "Mrs. Blake" in front of someone she is trying to convince of the masquerade. Does he just not "hear" her? Ultimately, it becomes a very labored and unfunny piece despite the fine cast. However, it's important to see because it proves that Garbo could play modern and sexy - the fact that her audiences would not accept her as same in no way detracts from her abilities and her ever unfolding talents.
1 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :- Not awful, but also not all that memorable, 29 September 2006 Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
This turned out to be Greta Garbo's last film, and in this light it could be said that her career did not end on a particularly good note. While this isn't a bad film, it's also pretty forgettable other than the fact that you get to see the Swedish vamp play a very unusual role where she smiles, does comedy and occasionally acts "kooky". I really don't think the movie's mediocrity is mostly the blame of Ms. Garbo, but the silliness and banality of the plot. In many ways the film seemed more like an episode of The Flintstones than a big budget film starring a Hollywood "heavyweight". If you don't believe me, just read a bit more about the plot: Workaholic Melvin Douglas is on vacation and meets ski instructor(!) Garbo. He is instantly smitten and very soon afterward they are married. However, instead of settling down to the simple life Douglas promised, he races back to the big city and his wild life--leaving Garbo behind--supposedly just for a week or so. The weeks become months and eventually Garbo heads to New York--only to find him paying way too much attention to another woman. So, given this situation, Garbo does what any normal woman would do--pretend to be her own twin sister who is wild and crazy and try to vamp Douglas herself! It is pretty funny watching all this (in particular, Garbo doing a crazy dance number when she gets drunk), but it's also pretty stupid and 100% ridiculous. For such a high-profile woman with a reputation for elegance, boy is this movie a HUGE departure--probably too much of a departure--that is why the public was less than impressed with this film.By the way, by the time this film was made, Garbo was getting pretty old to be playing such roles. In one scene in particular when she first arrived in New York, her hairstyle can only be described as horrid--looking almost like a hairstyle I'd expect to see on Una O'Conner in a Frankenstein movie. How the hairstylist chose THIS hideous and matronly style is beyond me.
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