The Flesh and The Devil - 1926

 Oh boy, I don't know how to describe this one in words, but I can describe it in laughter. Let's talk about the controversial film The Flesh and The Devil, from 1926. It starred Greta Garbo and it was something else. 

Courtesy of Fanpop

I didn't know I could laugh this hard at a drama. I could see all the plot twists coming a mile away. I was right on the money with each one. This film had kissing and making out in it, which is controversial for 1926. I call it comedy, really, and it's so bad it's good. Watch this for a good laugh at a melodramatic film. 

Plot? Right, let's get into it. It comes down to two best friends and starts with introducing their close, blood-brothered friendship. It establishes that they came back from the military in Germany (not Nazis, I promise). Leo (mustache) and Ulrich (clean-shaven) come home via the train. Leo has the bad luck to run into a woman (Felicitas) who is a serial cheater. He ends up getting caught with her, challenged to a duel (glove slap and all), and he kills her husband in the process. He's told to go serve and then brought back early at a friend's urging. He comes back and Felicitas (I nicknamed her Sultry) has married Ulrich. We then get drama to the max until the two friends end up on the Isle of Friendship (not kidding) for a duel. I can't even make this up; Hertha (little sister of Ulrich) prays after begging Felicitas to speak the truth and it looks like she's been exercised of demons for all the drama you see. She says she'll help, then drowns in a frozen lake on the way. The power of friendship ends the duel and no one bothers to notice Felicitas drowned. The End!

If you read all that, you have probably already laughed today. I'm linking the film to the end, so you can watch this hilarity yourself. Grab some popcorn and prepare to take nothing seriously. Commentary is encouraged on this one. It's so bad it's good. Greta Garbo and John Gilbert were a real couple on and off screen, starring in several other films together. I'll put TCM's comments below. 

Rating

I enjoyed this film. This film was also a popular one for the time, helping Garbo get better control of her films, more pay, and more freedom in choosing what she starred in (with Gilbert's help). MGM was not equal in pay and freedom of choice when it came to Gilbert and Garbo, which is a shame since both were good actors.

The film itself was written for drama and could pass for a soap opera. I give it a 9 out of 10 for laughter alone. I kind of see where Singing in the Rain got inspiration (if I'm wrong, correct me, but I don't think I am). It's a fun popcorn film for a day you don't want to think. It was a good before-work film for me. The whole thing is quite good if you know it's practically a soap opera. Check it out. I'll put the link below.

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