The Painted Veil (1934)
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68% of users liked it
(942 ratings)
A W. Somerset Maugham novel was the source for the fair-to-middling Greta Garbo vehicle The Painted Veil. In a situation comparable to the plotlines of most of her silent films, Garbo is lovelessly married to Herbert Marshall, but carries a flaming torch for George Brent. (Also harking back to… More A W. Somerset Maugham novel was the source for the fair-to-middling Greta Garbo vehicle The Painted Veil. In a situation comparable to the plotlines of most of her silent films, Garbo is lovelessly married to Herbert Marshall, but carries a flaming torch for George Brent. (Also harking back to Garbo's silent days is the fact that neither one of the men in her life is particularly interesting!) Marshall, a brilliant physician, is compelled to go into the interior regions of China to quell a cholera epidemic. He knows that Garbo has been having an affair with politician Brent, and chivalrously gives her the choice of remaining with Brent or accompanying him. Fearing a scandal, Brent bids farewell to Garbo. Once they're in the midst of the epidemic, Garbo tirelessly works by her husband's side; eventually she falls in love with him for the first time. Seriously injured in a peasant uprising, Marshall hovers near death. Brent reappears, offering to take Garbo back with him. She refuses, electing to stay with her husband no matter what the future brings. Among the supporting players in The Painted Veil are Warner Oland and Keye Luke, one year away from their memorable pairing in Fox's Charlie Chan films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Richard Boleslawski
- Genres
- Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 23, 1934 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Garbo lights up the screen with a sensuous, charismatic performance in this adaptation of Somerset Maugham as an errant wife who redeems herself during cholera crisis in China; Herbert Marshall as the husband and George Brent as the lover are also good
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Cast
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Greta Garbo
as Katherine Koerber Fane
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Herbert Marshall
as Dr. Walter Fane
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George Brent
as Jack Townsend
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Warner Oland
as Gen. Yu
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Jean Hersholt
as Prof. Koerber
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Beulah Bondi
as Frau Koerber
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Katherine Alexander
as Mrs. Townsend
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Cecilia Parker
as Olga
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Forrester Harvey
as Waddington
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Billy Bevan
as Bridegroom
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Vernon Dent
as Chief of Police
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Lawrence Grant
as English Governor
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Ethel Griffies
as Lady Coldchester
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Olaf Hytten
as Dr. Somerset
- Colin Kenny
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Jane Kerr
as Cruel Woman
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Gus Leonard
as Major-Domo
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Keye Luke
as Shay Kee Seng the Clerk
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Margaret Mann
as Mother Superior
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Leonard Mudie
as Secretary
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Delmar Watson
as Crying Boy
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Dorothea Wolbert
as Stuttering Woman
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Soo Yong
as Amah
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James Wang
as Proprietor of Curio Shop
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Alice Cook
as Curious Woman
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Lillian Lawrence
as Spinster
