Flesh and the Devil (1926)

92% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(894 ratings)

A bulky, verbose novel by Herman Suderman was the source for the exquisitely silent Flesh and the Devil. On leave from the Austrian army, lifelong friends John Gilbert and Lars Hanson return to their loving families. At a reception in Hanson's honor, Gilbert makes the acquaintance of the hauntingly… More A bulky, verbose novel by Herman Suderman was the source for the exquisitely silent Flesh and the Devil. On leave from the Austrian army, lifelong friends John Gilbert and Lars Hanson return to their loving families. At a reception in Hanson's honor, Gilbert makes the acquaintance of the hauntingly beautiful Greta Garbo, whom he'd previously glimpsed for a few fleeting seconds at the railway depot. Those few seconds were enough to thoroughly captivate Gilbert, thus paving the way for a feverish sexual liaison with Garbo. Gilbert is shocked to discover that Garbo is married to aristocrat Marc MacDermott, who challenges Gilbert to a duel--on the proviso that the "official" reason for their argument is a disagreement at cards, so that McDermott will suffer no disgrace. Gilbert kills the husband on the field of honor; as punishment for his unmilitary conduct, he is "invited" to accept a post in Africa. Honoring his promise to the late McDermott, Gilbert reveals his love of Garbo to no one, not even his dearest friend Hanson. As he departs for his five-year exile, Gilbert asks Hanson to look after the "bereaved" Garbo. Pardoned after three years, Gilbert returns home, only to discover that Garbo has remarried--to Hanson. Minister George Fawcett, evidently the only person to know of Gilbert's tryst with Garbo, advises Gilbert to give up his friendship with Hanson so as to avoid the temptation of cuckolding his best friend. But when Hanson falls seriously ill, Garbo begs Gilbert to renew the friendship. He does so, not suspecting that Garbo merely wants to trap him in her web again. Gilbert is caught in a compromising position by the distraught Hanson; he regretfully challenges Gilbert to a duel, to be fought on their favorite childhood playing site, "The Island of Friendship". As Hanson nervously aims his weapon at the repentant, unresisting Gilbert, he realizes that he can't go through with the duel. The two friends embrace, begging one another's forgiveness...while Garbo, who has belatedly headed across the frozen lake to prevent the duel, comes to an icy end. While the overly intense "male bonding" between John Gilbert and Lars Hanson tends to evoke knowing chuckles when seen today, Flesh and the Devil otherwise holds up quite well. Clarence Brown's innovative directorial touches still seem fresh after years of imitation by lesser talents. Ostensibly a John Gilbert vehicle (he receives sole over-the-title billing), Flesh is utterly dominated through sheer force of personality by the divine Garbo; in anyone else's hands, her enigmatic, impulse-driven temptress would have been just another cardboard vixen. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Clarence Brown
Written By: Benjamin F. Glazer, Marian Ainslee
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1926 Wide
On DVD: Sep 11, 2007

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
A corking story, exceptionally acted and cleverly directed. A lot of glory to be distributed among all concerned.
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
Miss Garbo is undeniably alluring as Felicitas. Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Hansen give sound performances in their respective roles.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Turgid and stiff, it finds the magic only occasionally.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Somewhat notorious Garbo vehicle which co-stars real life lover, John Gilbert.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
Garbo is mesmerising in this wild and heated romance that has to be considered in context to cope with the excesive aesthetic and thematic melodrama.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A well crafted but creaky vehicle.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Much ado about nothing, really, but Garbo is as luminous as ever, thanks to William Daniels' camerawork.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Garbo & Gilbert at their steamy, sultry silent peak.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Garbo makes love!
, Film4
Pretty melodramatic stuff, it looked gorgeous and was well directed by Brown, Garbo's favourite director.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Greta Garbo is the siren whose insatiable sexuality threatens to tear apart blood brothers John Gilbert and Lars Hanson in this overheated and melodramatic masterpiece.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

One of the best romantic melodramas I've seen from the 20s so far. The acting is great, the story is heartbreaking, and the cinematography is really cool too. It's a really beautiful movie. The only thing I didn't like was the couple of boring scenes in the… More
One of the best romantic melodramas I've seen from the 20s so far. The acting is great, the story is heartbreaking, and the cinematography is really cool too. It's a really beautiful movie. The only thing I didn't like was the couple of boring scenes in the beginning. Overall, a great movie, though, I highly recommend it.
jay n

Famed silent is for the time period a well made melodrama. The story is of no real consequence and now seems very familiar as it probably was at the time of it's release. The communion scene is provocative, very erotic even today and must have been a sensation in '26. The… More
Famed silent is for the time period a well made melodrama. The story is of no real consequence and now seems very familiar as it probably was at the time of it's release. The communion scene is provocative, very erotic even today and must have been a sensation in '26. The real interest is of course the cast, Garbo especially. Of all the players she is the acting standout, with the exception of a few scenes her performance feels very naturalistic. The same goes for her appearance, whereas everybody else looks like they belong in the 1920's her unadorned hairdos and streamlined clothes convey a contemporary feeling, a flesh impact. Gilbert, who was then wildly popular, is a relic from a bygone era. He looks like he could be attractive but his ridiculous moustache and the heavy makeup required at the time sabotage his handsomeness. His acting is quite mannered and uneven, he was much better in The Big Parade, but he and Garbo share an undeniable chemistry. The real offender in overacting is Lars Hanson his eyepopping and herky jerky movements are a textbook example of the worst kind of silent screen performance, the impression that keeps a lot of people from giving silents a try. The other major person in this passion play is Barbara Kent as the angelic young thing in contrast to Garbo rapacious strumpet. Kent at 105 is the last remaining silent screen star still living although she turned her back on public life and has been a recluse since the 50's.
Stella D

a little melodramatic for my taste but the romantic charms of vienna and garbo and gilbert's great chemistry carry the film. garbo was just 21 and soon moved in with 27 yr old gilbert who was a major star and already twice divorced. they became one of the most famous couples of… More
a little melodramatic for my taste but the romantic charms of vienna and garbo and gilbert's great chemistry carry the film. garbo was just 21 and soon moved in with 27 yr old gilbert who was a major star and already twice divorced. they became one of the most famous couples of hollywood's golden age both on and off screen.
Cindy I

Excellent film. I had heard about this for years and it didn't disappoint. A familiar story -- a love triangle -- handled well, good performances, unexpected (although appropriate) ending and even though it's a drama, it has some good comic bits in the beginning. Keep an eye… More
Excellent film. I had heard about this for years and it didn't disappoint. A familiar story -- a love triangle -- handled well, good performances, unexpected (although appropriate) ending and even though it's a drama, it has some good comic bits in the beginning. Keep an eye out for the pastor's drunken "double vision." The fireworks between Garbo and Gilbert are obviously real -- nobody is that good an actor. It's a shame John Gilbert, for whatever the true reasons are, didn't make it in talkies. He did a really good job here. I was surprised by Garbo's character, Felicitas. I didn't expect her to be quite so selfish and evil. But god she's gorgeous. I can see how a man could let his whole life go to rack and ruin over her. With the subject matter, and all the making out, I'm sure this film was shocking for its time, particularly the scene where the characters are in church and taking Communion. I'm not Catholic or shocked by much and this still got me. This film is just a quality effort all around.