While Greta Garbo certainly had her charm and charisma, it wasn't on display in this one as much as I had hoped. The film apparently bears as little resemblance to the history of Mata Hari, as Garbo had to the forty-something Dutchwoman. Ramon Novarro wasn't very convincing as a Russian, but I guess people didn't pay as much attention to accents and such back in the pre-Streep days. The drama was overwrought, as was the style of the times. (All drama was melodrama) You do have to admire the costumes, though. Imagine how it would have looked in color. This film is certainly worth seeing, to Garbo fans. Anyone else may not enjoy it all that much.
