The Torrent

"Torrent" was Greta Garbo's American film debut. She was 20 at the time. I was very excited to see this film and I was not disappointed. It is an excellent silent film...not just for Garbo fans, but for anyone. It has a new score, which is very good indeed. The theme for Garbo and her lover is absolutely gorgeous and heart breaking at the same time. What a treat that this film got a new, full orchestration. The film quality is also good. Some silent films have a lot of flecks, lines, etc., but this one doesn't. A few of the title cards (isn't that what it's called for the words that come up on the screen in silent films?) have some major damage, but you can still read them. The various scenes have different color...there is the standard black and white, and also purple tint, blue tint, red tint, pink tint, and orange tint. It's not distracting, though...it's rather pretty. I'm assuming it was done that way on purpose.One of my favorite title cards in the film is a line Garbo "says" in the film..."I believed in love once and love failed me." Another favorite one reads that "love comes once in life and it has passed us by." And also, when people miss the best life has to offer, life offers a second best as a consolation.It is not a happy movie, but rather a bittersweet story. Sometimes I enjoy those types of stories more than the happy happy movies, because they are more true to life. I actually cried at the end, because it was such a bittersweet ending. I think it's a very powerful story of love lost and how life can go so differently from what one plans and hopes for.Greta's performance is very good, but it was still early on in her career, so all the nuances and deep emotion of her acting are not fully developed. However, she still handles the transition from a young, innocent girl to a world-weary woman amazingly. This film was 1926 and when you see her in 'The Mysterious Lady' (1928), that is when she really blossoms in her acting ability, in my opinion. From 'The Mysterious Lady' onward she is one jaw-dropping, amazing actress. Incidentally, about the time of 'The Mysterious Lady' was also the time she started having closed sets with only the people there that had to be there and with screens up to give her privacy while she filmed. So, I think she was then able to show what she could really do. Also, by that time, the Garbo look (costumes and make-up) had been perfected. This film, 'Torrent', the style of make-up and costumes aren't what you think of as classic Garbo. But, she is still beautiful and amazing.There are no special features on the film or scene selections; you can only skip in 10 minute intervals.

My favorite Garbo silent of all time! I don't know what it is about this story that I love so much, but I know it has a lot to do with the screen presence Garbo brings. I believe this was the first movie she ever made here in America. I love everything about this film; the music, the plot, and not to mention how beautiful Garbo looks in this film. Her look in this movie is my favorite along with "Flesh & The Devil" and "The Temptress." Those are the 3 movies that, for me, shows her at her most beautiful. The orchestra and sound for this film is absolutely perfect from beginning to the end. You will find in this dvd though that most of the scenes are not black & white but color tinted. It's not bothersome though. The quality of the film is still pretty hd. I highly recommend this movie to any Garbo fan, but mostly to the fans who cherish her silent films the most. This is a nice little treasure for the collection that shows a very young Garbo at her Hollywood beginning. You can't miss it!

An interesting forerunner of Camille. Garbo's character (with a scandalous reputation) is prevented from securing her true love by his mother, rather than his father.It's played with a variety of light comic elements and the torrent in the title is a breathtaking sequence. Garbo is magnificent throughout. It was her first American film and her future stardom was evident from the outset.The B/W film is presented through a variety of different tints. These did little for me, but no great damage. My instinct is 4*, although I am feeling a little mean in not offering 5*. This is a most enjoyable film.

Garbo's first American film, shows clearly what was to come from her acting abilities and persona in the next 23 films she made in the United States for roughly the next 16 years, and all for MGM Studios. She was 36 years old at the time of her last film, "Two Faced Woman" directed by George Cukor. "The Torrent" was a popular and critical success at the time. Most of Garbo's films were photographed by the noted cameraman William Daniels.Garbo had made two European films prior to coming to the United States, "The Saga of Gosta Berling" with the Swedish Director, Mauritz Stiller and "The Street of Sorrows" directed by the German Director, G. W. Pabst. All of the beauty, mystery and personality of Greta Garbo can be seen in this first silent film.A film not to be missed in seeing the first film of one, if not the greatest Actress of Hollywood during the Golden Years. And that statement was also made by Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Luise Rainer, Joan Crawford, Louise Brooks and many other Actresses and Critics of the period.

I really enjoyed this picture. I must have as I've watched it three times. There is a good story which Garbo lifts well above melodrama. It's a tale of two lovers who have a powerful chemical attraction but who are mismatched. This situation is well drawn. The film shows what a charismatic star Garbo was as soon as she hit the screen. The soundtrack is also a highlight, a beautiful score that adds volumes to one's enjoyment of the film. Five Stars. Not to be missed for Silent Fans or Garbo Fans.

This is an outstanding film of a rare Garbo film!

Could never get this in any form previously so well pleased with it. A good film really with a very risque story for the period. As with most of these films it could have been all done and dusted in half the running time but good nonetheless. A bit corny when you see how she keeps her youth and beauty throughout but you see her former lover at the end of the film being an overweight middle aged man!

all ok thanks

Review of the Warner Brother MOD DVD, NTSC R0. Garbo's US debut is captured here in a slightly worn print, there is a lot of very fine vertical lines but good levels of detail for the most part, a couple of short scenes look much softer and possibly are spliced in from inferior stock. Very light nitrate rot here and there, but it's doesn't ruin the viewing experience at all. Some of the intertitles exhibit much more rot but are still perfectly legible.The soundtrack - hmm - it's a multi instrument affair and stylistically, there are many changes throughout the film. For the most part, it wasn't for me. Some light use of electric keyboards just didn't feel right. Some of the melodies are quite repetitive and worst still, the mood was off for many scenes.The story is a good one, poor girl loves well off boy with a domineering mother. Mother wins and poor girl seeks her destiny in the world. I liked the way Garbo was clearly no angel and she is even slightly cruel toward her ex here and there, but of course she still loves him and the story hangs on those tensions. The finale is quite philosophical and very pleasing to me.Garbo looks quite stunning in some scenes, radiant. In others she looks like a frizzy haired geek but Hollywood soon learned how to make her look ravishing all the time. Her acting is very good but not quite in league with her later films. Just one scene overdone for me and only a little.Along the way we are treated to some special effects courtesy of the storm. There are some VERY obvious matte paintings and fairly obvious model work going on and a slightly odd looking semi transparent row boat! It was probably quite impressive 93 years ago.This is a good movie, didn't see the ending coming at all. It's a 5 star flick but the music turns the overall product in to a 4 star one. Definitely worth checking out.