Flesh and the Devil (1926)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Marian Ainslee (titles)
Benjamin Glazer (writer)

Release Date:

25 December 1926 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Leo and Ulrich are life long friends. Home, on leave from their military training, Leo sees the beautiful Felicitas at the railroad station...

Plot Keywords:

Duel | Male Female Relationship | Friendship | Love | Homoeroticism

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Gilbert	...	Leo von Harden
Greta Garbo	...	Felicitas
Lars Hanson	...	Ulrich von Eltz
Barbara Kent	...	Hertha von Eltz
William Orlamond	...	Uncle Kutowski
George Fawcett	...	Pastor Voss
Eugenie Besserer	...	Leo's Mother
Marc McDermott	...	Count von Rhaden
Marcelle Corday	...	Minna

Runtime:

UK:109 min | USA:113 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The famous, tempestuous love affair between Greta Garbo and John Gilbert began while they were filming this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Leo is talking to Felicitas on the bench in the park and tells her that he must go to Africa, the position of the collar of his overcoat repeatedly changes from pulled up to flat.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Garbo (2005)

Soundtrack:

ATRA

Ahead of its time

"Flesh and the Devil", the 1926 silent film, brilliantly directed by Clarence Brown, was shown recently on cable and the most amazing thing happened: the film looks superb! "Flesh and the Devil" has one of the most amazing team behind the camera, one that made its stars look so magnificently that one can't take ones eyes from the screen for fear of losing something. In addition to the superb director, the work of William Daniels with his camera is amazing. Mr. Daniels created images that are hard to forget.

The opening sequence of the film involving the arrival of Leo and Ulrich in their hometown, has to be one of the best things ever filmed. When Leo discovers the beautiful Felicitas as she descends from the train and walks to the awaiting car, where he runs to rescue the flower arrangement she inadvertently had dropped, is charged with desire and raw sex. Hollywood was more daring during those precode days when anything seemed to go.

Greta Garbo and John Gilbert make this film something to watch again and again. Both stars exuded such charisma that it's not hard to realize they were lovers. Ms. Garbo looked lovely in all her scenes and Mr. Gilbert was one of the handsomest leading men of the era.

One of the best things whoever restored the film was to add a great musical score that makes watching the pleasure it is. Also, in spite of being a silent movie, "Flesh and the Devil" has such a fluidity that, at times, we forget it's not a "talkie", because of the magic that Mr. Brown, and his cinematographer, William Daniels, were able to do together. Of course, the film is what it is because of its stars' magnetism and the way they make us care about the story.