Film Introduction"As You Desire Me" is a melodramatic film directed by George Fitzmaurice and released in 1932. The film is based on a 1929 Italian play titled "Come tu mi vuoi", written by Luigi Pirandello. The film features Greta Garbo, Erich von Stroheim, and Melvyn Douglas in the lead roles. Structured as a tale of memory, identity, and lost love, "As You Desire Me" primarily showcases its distinguished style of amnesia.
Plot SynopsisThe movie starts in a raucous cabaret in Budapest, fixating an intoxicated singer called Zara(Greta Garbo). Zara is in an abusive relationship with her aggressive and manipulative supervisor, Salter (Erich von Stroheim). Life takes an unexpected turn when a stranger, Tony (Melvyn Douglas), checks out the cabaret. He is convinced that Zara is his missing wife, Maria, who disappeared during World War I. He reveals Zara a photograph of Maria, and they are indeed noticeably comparable. Tony persuades Zara to go back to Italy with him and reignite their wedded life, hoping that it might trigger her lost memory.
Character Developments and ConflictAs soon as in Italy, Zara is invited warmly by Tony's household however is met with suspicion by Tony's pal, Count Bruno, who asserts that Maria is dead. While sticking with Tony, Zara forms amiable relations with his household, especially with his doting aunt. Tony still holds deep affection for his lost partner and thinks that Zara is Maria truly pestered by amnesia from the injury of war. Parallelly, Salter, from Budapest, tries to screw up any hopes of Zara's serene future by enforcing his ownership over her.
Climax and ConclusionIn an intriguing turn, the real Maria (also depicted by Greta Garbo) steps forward after hearing the news about 'Maria's return'. This shocking revelation leads to a remarkable climax where Maria gos to Zara and admits her intentional escape from Tony after the war, unable to reconcile with his self-important control. She notifies Zara that she purposefully led Salter to think that Zara was Maria.
Zara chooses to leave Tony and go back to her cabaret life despite her growing affection for her obtained life. Nevertheless, Tony admits his love for Zara as 'Zara' and pleads with her not to go. The movie concludes with Zara deciding to remain, accepting Tony's love, providing an enthusiastic finish up for their unpredictable romance.
Vital Analysis"As You Desire Me" is an unconventional drama with an enthralling story that rotates on a case of incorrect identity and amnesia. Greta Garbo's double performance in the movie as Zara and Maria is frequently commemorated for her commanding screen presence and flexibility. The film weaves a tangled web of deception, adjustment, and revived love, sketching characters whose lives are greatly affected by the horrors of war and personal ambitions. While the narrative can be perceived as too contrived or fanciful, the wonderfully specified characters and the proficient direction of Fitzmaurice handle to make the movie a detaining phenomenon for enthusiasts of classical Hollywood cinema.
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