The story follows a cabaret singer in Berlin, played by , who may be an amnesiac Italian countess named Maria. She is tracked down by a friend of Maria's husband, Bruno (Melvyn Douglas), and returns to an Italian villa to reclaim her life.
: Her performance is widely praised for rising above the "hokey" or "far-fetched" script. Modern reviewers note her "overt sensuality" and "amazing screen aura," though some find her theatrical gestures a bit dated. As You Desire Me
: A central theme is that identity is an artificial construct; the heroine declares she will be whoever those around her believe her to be. The story follows a cabaret singer in Berlin,
While some find the film "slow moving" or "creaky" by modern standards, it is still considered a "fascinating" piece of cinema for its "histrionic battle" between Garbo and von Stroheim. Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and NitrateVille.com suggest that while the plot may be "hokey," the star power and philosophical depth make it worth watching. Viewer Perspectives Modern reviewers note her "overt sensuality" and "amazing
: Playing the "demonically sadistic" writer Salter, von Stroheim provides a terrific, bizarre foil to Garbo's character.
“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.” Rotten Tomatoes