''The Temptress'' is a 1926 American silent

romantic drama film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typica ...

directed by Fred Niblo and starring Greta Garbo, Antonio Moreno,

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blythe; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

, and Roy D'Arcy. It premiered on October 10, 1926. The film

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

was based on a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez adapted for the screen by Dorothy Farnum.

Plot summary

Cast

* Greta Garbo as Elena, who uses her physical beauty to "tempt" and manipulate the opposite sex. * Antonio Moreno as Manuel Robledo, is an

Argentine Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...

engineer on leave in Paris from a dam building project back home in Argentina. * Marc McDermott as Fontenoy, middle-aged banker who had an affair with Elena during a difficult period and eventually commits

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

in a highly melodramatic fashion by drinking poisoned wine in public. *

as Canterac * Armand Kaliz as Marquis de Torre Bianca, a Frenchman and the husband of Elena, but also the close friend of Robledo. * Roy D'Arcy as Manos Duras, a local Argentine bandit who, like Robledo, falls for Elena when she arrives in Argentina. * Robert Anderson as Pirovani * Francis McDonald as Timateo * Hector Sarno as Rojas * Virginia Brown Faire as Celinda *

Steve Clemente Steve Clemente (born Esteban Clemento Morro November 22, 1885 – May 7, 1950) was a Mexican-American actor known for his many villainous roles. He began acting in his teens, signing up for his first movie, ''The Secret Man'', in 1917. His later ...

as Salvadore (uncredited) * Roy Coulson as Trinidad (uncredited) *

Louise Emmons Louise Emmons (January 7, 1858 – March 6, 1935) was an American character actress. She appeared in several films between 1914 and 1935. Early years Information about her early life is contradictory. Older sources give 1852 or 1861 as her bi ...

as Newspaper Vendor (uncredited) * Inez Gomez as Sebastiana (uncredited) * Bob Kortman as Duras Henchman (uncredited) * Ethan Laidlaw as Caballero (uncredited) * Annabelle Magnus as Little Girl (uncredited) *

Chrispin Martin Chris-Pin Martin (born Ysabel Ponciana Chris-Pin Martin Paiz, November 19, 1893 – June 27, 1953) was an American character actor whose specialty lay in portraying comical Mexicans, particularly sidekicks in ''The Cisco Kid'' film series. He ...

as Argentine Ranch Hand (uncredited) * Louis Mercier as Newspaper Vendor (uncredited) * Alys Murrell as Josephine (uncredited) * Constantine Romanoff as Duras Henchman (uncredited) * Charles Stevens as Argentine Reveler (uncredited) * Mauritz Stiller as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

Production

Mauritz Stiller was originally set to direct Greta Garbo's second film for MGM. However, after struggling working as a director within the Hollywood studio system, he was removed from directing and replaced by Fred Niblo. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

James Basevi. Despite its filming difficulties, ''The Temptress'' proved to be a success, showing early signs of Garbo’s career potential. It grossed $587,000 domestically and $378,000 internationally, its worldwide gross was $965,000, though loss $43,000. After Louis B. Mayer viewed the finished picture, he was so depressed at the ending, that he ordered an alternate, happier ending to be made. Theaters at the time had the option of which ending to show, depending on what they felt were the tastes of their audience.Commentary by Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies, March 5, 2012.

Reception

Mordaunt Hall said "In many respects this picture is a distinguished piece of work, wherein Fred Niblo, the director, keeps the audience on the qui vive. It is a photodrama in which the producers do not pander to popular appeal by portraying a happy ending."

Home media

The film was released on DVD on September 6, 2005 by Warner Home Video as part of the Greta Garbo collection also featuring the film '' Flesh and the Devil'' on the same disc. The alternate ending was included as well.

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Temptress, The 1926 films 1926 romantic drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films based on Spanish novels Films based on works by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez Films directed by Fred Niblo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films produced by Irving Thalberg Films set in Paris Films set in Argentina 1920s English-language films 1920s American films English-language romantic drama films Silent American romantic drama films