Love (released in 1927) - Starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert

Love is adapted from the timeless classic of Leo Tolstoy "Anna Karenina" and stars Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. Directed by Edmound Goudling this movie from the MGM stables try to capture the Greta-Gilbert erotic chemistry to the fullest.
The Russian army officer Count Vronsky on the way to battle enters an inn and spies on a women. He tries to flirt with her and the annoyed lady rebuffs his advances but Vronsky is taken in by her very beautiful countenance. Vronsky is again presented with the same lady, Anna as a wife of the Russian senator, Karenin. Anna though initially is cold to Vronsky's passion thaws and they soon start an affair. Anna is very unhappy in her marriage with her husband who has no time left for her. Her only consolation is her son Sergei, whom she dotes on.
As the passionate affair continues, it becomes the talk of the town and soon the word reaches Karenin's ears. A love sozzled Anna makes a spectacle of herself at the races and the angry senator confronts the lovers and drags Anna back home. He even tries to get Vronsky courtmartialled for disciplinary reasons. Both Anna and Vronsky elope and leave Russia for Italy. But even though Anna finds passion, her love for her child drives her to guilt. She ultimately returns to Russia to inquire upon her son. But her husband forbades her meeting with Sergei and tells her that the boy has been told that she is dead. A heartbroken Anna tries everything to get her son back, but the twisted laws of that era prevent her from getting his custody.



On the other hand a love sick Vronsky follows her to Russia and they start living in together. But Anna's guilt and the lack of respectability drives her to alcohol and depression. Karenin tries to get back at Vronsky by diminishing his social status and Anna begs him not to resort to vengeance. Karenin asks her leave St. Petersburg forever and not to see Sergei again. Upon loosing her son Anna commits suicide by stepping in front of the train. This tragic version true to the Tolstoy's novel was distributed internationally
To satisfy the American audiences, the ending was slightly altered. A time leap of five years was envisaged where Vronsky meets Anna's son graduating from military college. He meets him and Sergei invites him over to his house where Anna is residing. Karenin has passed away and the lovers reunite again with the blessing of Sergei.
Love was beset with many problems and Greta Garbo was seriously ill during its production. It is also said that Garbo was part of the strike asking for higher remuneration from the studio and she returned to her shoot only after a substantial pay hike.
This movie was initially titled Heat and was a block buster of that year. This was one of the last silent era movies of Greta Garbo and she again was to make Anna Karenina with Clarence Brown.

The Gaucho (released in 1927) - Starring Douglas Fairbanks and Lupe Velez

The Gaucho is a Argentine anti-hero who is the ultimate savior; inspite of his initial wild behavior. This movie is a Douglas Fairbanks vehicle which is in-fact written and produced by him. It is said that Fairbanks was influenced by the miracles at the St. Lourdes Shrine and the religious overtones in the movie is ultimately derived from this. The Gaucho showcases the amazing good looks and athleticism of Fairbanks who swings from trees, rides bare back and dance with heavenly abandon.
El Gaucho is the ultimate bandit who can single handedly control a town with his small company of bandits coming in later to complete the task. He is willful, playful and a perfect Casanova. Gaucho sets his sights on a small town with a healing shrine. The flashback tells us that a girl who fell from a cliff was miraculously saved by the Virgin Mary who in-turn gives her the healing powers. So the shrine of Our Lady flourishes and the coffers are overflowing with gold.
The usurper, Ruiz is the villain who wants to loot the town and the shrine for the gold. But Gaucho and his banditos put a perfect spanner to his works and ends up saving the shrine. Gaucho is hailed as a hero and his roving eye makes him more appealing. His eye rests on the Mountain Girl, Maria, who is fiery and hotter than the hottest of jalapeños. She matches Gaucho's temper and his dancing steps. A heavenly scene is the two of them doing the tango and nothing can yet has been devised to beat the chemistry these two share. Soon Maria and Gaucho are sharing an apple and the romance flourishes.



But the mountain girl has a fiery temper and a jealous mind. She cannot stand her man showing attention to others. Gaucho is attentive and responsive, playful and watchful with the young girl. But his livery is short-lived as he is afflicted with the black doom. The movie does not present the medical condition and many critics dub it as leprosy. But the black doom slowly sucks out the life off his body and his arm turn black.
Gaucho meets the saintly lady in the Shrine whose prayers heal him. He is attracted by her serenity and holiness and falls in love with her. But this earns him the wrath of Maria. Soon all hell breaks loose with Ruiz and gang capturing him. He is tortured along with the others and this scenes can be labeled a little sadistic. But it is a Fairbanks movie who can be compared to the ultimate superhero. He prevails all the tempests with the able assistance and blessing of the Virgin Mary. Then Maria also is tamed and turned in to a perfect catholic and wedded.
This movie belongs to the silent era and this does not diminish the entertainment value. In fact the touchy feely feeling in the movie is more due the absence of sound. Douglas Fairbanks is the most apt choice as the swashbuckling, smoking Casanova bandit with a devil may care attitude. But the revelation is the mountain girl Maria, a girl who is ahead of time and no real man can match or resist this red hot pepper girl.
Just watch it for pure entertainment.