NINOTCHKA (1939) lets Greta Garbo cut loose in a great comedy

After years of melodramas and period romance films, the usually serious minded Greta Garbo gets to have some fun in this very entertaining comedy. She plays a special envoy from Russia named Ninotchka who is sent to Paris to investigate the rather unorthodox and generally inefficient way in which three Russian ambassadors (Iranoff, Buljanoff and Kopalskia) are carrying out their job. She gets sidetracked by the unwanted advances of Count Leon d'Algout (played by the irrepressible Melvyn Douglas). His constant attempts to woo her and her not giving make up the bulk of the story. This entire film hinges on whether Garbo could perform in a comedy. And she passes with flying colors. Her Russian envoy is pretty much serious and has no time for games and she nails that portion with no problem. It's when she finally gets to lighten up, is when Garbo really shines. Ninotchka is a wonderful film with plenty of humor and a nice helping of romance as well. GARBO DELIVERS!