Nana

Having seen two Anna Sten vehicles during her brief collaboration with Samuel Goldwyn, I've come to the conclusion that Sten's Hollywood sojourn was horribly mishandled. Sten herself is charming, particularly in comedic scenes. She was undeniably beautiful too. She does handle a few dramatic scenes awkwardly, though this could have been from discomfort in the English language.

The big problem is the films themselves. NANA and WE LIVE AGAIN are glossy, tame versions of 19th century novels. NANA in particular has a patchwork script, a case of parts being better than the whole. The best scenes involve Nana and her fellow ladies of the night interacting, or her misadventures in wooing foolish men. The moment the serious love plot rears its head, the movie clomps. Sten is also called upon to do her best Dietrich impression in the film's one musical number and it's okay-- but it's better to be a first rate version of yourself than a second rate Dietrich.

In 1860s Paris, beautiful escort Anna Sten (as Nana) falls in love with handsome lieutenant Phillips Holmes (as George Muffat). When Mr. Holmes' colonel brother Lionel Atwill (as Andre) finds out Ms. Sten is the mistress of elderly Richard Bennett (as Gaston Greiner), he forbids little brother marry the beautiful Sten, then falls for her himself. This watered-down adaptation of Emile Zola's naughty novel "Nana" was producer Samuel Goldwyn's attempt to create a new Greta Garbo - with a Marlene Dietrich song imitation thrown in for good measure. Alas, lightning did not strike up much action in theater cashiers...

Her MGM contract up, the elusive Garbo had "retired" to Sweden for several months during 1932-1933, creating the gap filled by various attempts to find a "New Garbo". Sten, who had already proved herself an accomplished and versatile actress, comes across as unable to handle the lead role. A good supporting cast, fine photography from Gregg Toland, and capable direction by Dorothy Arzner failed to create anything approaching Garbo or Dietrich. Ironically, Garbo's own "Camille" (1936) would later cover much of the territory attempted in "Nana", with Jessie Ralph (as Zoe) uttering almost identical lines.

***** Nana (2/1/34) Dorothy Arzner ~ Anna Sten, Phillips Holmes, Lionel Atwill, Richard Bennett

Fascinating period piece both in terms of the Setting of the film and when it was made. It's a rather early "talky" made by the only female director of the time. The original director began his career as a French art director and was fired and replaced by Arzner. Maybe he is responsible for the grand production values. Dorothy Arzner had been a film editor and even a cinematographer before becoming the first female member of the Film Directors Guild. She uses some great camera movements and segues that were very innovative for the era.

The music is very good. There is a great use of drums to create and build tension.

I didn't even think of Zola's Nana so it's loose connection didn't bother me. Anna Sten is gorgeous. There are some references to homosexuality between the women. But it's very subtle to modern viewers as required in 1930s when it might have been unheard of to the majority of viewers.

This Nana is quite a feminist for the 1930s. She's gay in the original meaning of the word and refuses to exist in her preordained social class. She is an independent woman who has affairs with different men throughout the picture without necessarily loving them. She gets drunk. She works hard. She parties. What woman today hasn't done that? But in the 1930s? Scandalous! And the men all blame her for their bad choices because she doesn't fall in with them or obey them. One of Nana's lovers forbids her to drink more alcohol and she says, "You what!!??" He has to soft pedal it.

She constantly takes insults and keeps going. The old men in the picture want to ruin her for loving outside her class. She gives it right back to them. She tells one old fart, "You made me? Well I paid you!" Meaning she paid him with her youth, beauty, and sex. And his price was expensive, the wrinkly old dick.

It is a much more sympathetic view of Nana than the self righteous and sexist Zola could have dreamed of. So many men just can't believe that a woman might just enjoy life outside of marrying and having children. Arzner knew a woman could.

I think Sten's accent and acting was criticized heavily when the film first came out because the acting in the silent era was so different and critics weren't used to the new style in talkies. Also, foreign accents were initially not well received. Garbo had been a silent film star and was accepted as a transitional star. Sten didn't have that to carry her into the new medium. Viewed without any bias over Garbo, Sten is very good and in some ways seems to have a more modern style comparable more to Olivia de Haviland. Her eyes are super sexy.

This tame version of the Emile Zola novel has excellent production values is lensed by Gregg Toland and features an able supporting cast all negated by the wretched Anna Sten in the lead. A Garbo/Dietrich hybrid with a dreadful grasp of English she more resembles Bela Lugosi in inflection than the other two imports.

Nana is the toast of the Paris theater during the Belle Epoque. With boudoir attributes that match her stage performances she attracts a lot of heavy hitters. She truly falls for a low in status officer but this is complicated by his brother (Lionel Atwill) who at first attempts to break up the two but finds Nana irresistible himself.

Sten's flat affect is beyond bad, her stage presence a travesty. Lionel Atwill, Mae Clarke and Philip Holmes fulfill their end of the bargain ably but there is no getting around the totally lost Ms. Sten. It cries out for Greta or Marlene from its opening moments and given its impressive foundation I found myself annoyed at this botched chance to do the Zola novel justice and the lost opportunity for both actresses to sink their teeth into a role that would have ranked with their best.

Sure, the film is dated, the dialogue sometimes florid, the tone too much copied von Sternberg. But this movie a mega-flop and Anna Sten and her mentor Sam Goldwyn pillaged?

I have seen Nana a few times on TV; coincidentally when first aired on TV (around 1970) and twice since then. Gotta tell you, I think Goldwyn was on to something - Anna is, yes, a bit like Garbo, a bit like Dietrich, but a lot like, well Anna Sten. And her acting far better than she is criticized for (try her 1935 The Wedding Night, very touching, thank you King Vidor).

Too bad she was not afforded more opportunities in the right vehicles (like Marion Davies?).