Ninotchka

1939, Comedy, 1h 50m

38 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

With Greta Garbo proving her comedy chops in the twilight of her career, Ninotchka is a can't-miss classic. Read critic reviews

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Ninotchka Photos

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

Ninotchka (1939)

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Movie Info

A no-nonsense diplomat of the Soviet Union, Nina Ivanovna "Ninotchka" Yakushova (Greta Garbo) arrives in Paris to ensure the sale of jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile, carefree bachelor Count Leon d'Algout (Melvyn Douglas) attempts to intercept the valuables on behalf of their former owner, the Grand Duchess Swana (Ina Claire). Despite their conflicting allegiances, the icy Ninotchka soon warms to Leon's charms, reluctantly going against her better judgment.

Genre:

Comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Ernst Lubitsch
Producer:

Ernst Lubitsch
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 9, 1939 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Sep 6, 2005
Runtime:

1h 50m
Distributor:

Loew's Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Sound Mix:

Mono

Cast & Crew

Greta Garbo
Ninotchka (Nina Ivanovna Yakushova)

Melvyn Douglas
Count Leon d'Algout

Ina Claire
Swana

Sig Ruman
Michael Simonavich Iranoff

Felix Bressart
Buljanoff

Alexander Granach
Kopalski

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Critic Reviews for Ninotchka

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (1)

Full Review… Richard Brody New Yorker

Full Review… Whittaker Chambers TIME Magazine

Full Review… Joshua Rothkopf Time Out

Full Review… David Parkinson Empire Magazine

Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media

Full Review… Variety Staff Variety

Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… Shadow Stage Photoplay

Full Review… Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies

Full Review… A.S. Hamrah n+1

Full Review… Graham Greene The Spectator

View All Critic Reviews (38)

Audience Reviews for Ninotchka

Aug 20, 2018

Somehow I'm taken aback by how quickly Garbo's character changes from one scene to the next (which is in fact coherent with the film's obvious anti-Sovietism and casual sexism), but her magnetic presence and the excellent dialogue make everything an enormous pleasure to watch.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Jan 11, 2014

Its not false advertising to claim that "Garbo laughs" in this film (it happens on more than one occasion) but she's also endlessly charming and surprisingly funny.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Jul 23, 2013

The sale of an exiled countess's diamonds brings a Soviet investigator to Paris where she falls her rival. Garbo laughs! Greta Garbo delivers a phenomenal performance as the eponymous character in this romantic satire/farce. Garbo's cyborg character softens about forty-five minutes into the film, and from then on she becomes old cinema's definition of charming, charismatic female lead. Melvyn Douglas is a fine leading man, and the three Russian stooges provide good comic relief. The film is typical Cold War-era fare -- maybe a little more complex as Leon actually reads Das Kapital, but that only sets up the butler's capitalistic retort to Communist ideology. But the film's strength is that it stays focused on the human relationship and the change in the character rather than on the what Ninotchka's conversion means as a political statement. Overall, this is a charming film that keeps its political message in the background.

Jim H Super Reviewer
Mar 29, 2012

A charming comedy with some really great dialogue in some of the scenes.

Jared H Super Reviewer

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