A well acted film from a well written screenplay by the legendary Billy Wilder (how often does the writer outdo the director?). Ninotchka is a great romantic comedy about a pair of Russian jewels and the Soviet Comrade Ninotchka (Greta Garbo) who is sent to retrieve them. The jewels used to belong to a Grand Duchess Swana who in turn sends her suave boyfriend Count Leon (Melvyn Douglas) to try and find a way to return them to her. He begins to woo the icy Ninotchka whose Soviet beliefs and stern strict personality make a natural defense. Eventually her cold front begins to met away and Leon is able to get a smile, than a grin and then a full on laugh. Unfortunately in wooing Ninotchka he has developed real feelings for her and the sticky situation transcends to a testament to love over duty and personal wants over your Country's needs. Greta Garbo was well known as a serious thespian actress and Ninotchka was sold under the phrase "see Garbo laugh!". A woman who always plays cold and serious roles finally stars in a comedy where she plays a cold and serious role. Hysterical!