Catalogue · No. 39
The Temptress
Fred Niblo · 1926 · United States · 106 min
Synopsis
In Parisian high society, the alluring Elena becomes the object of obsessive devotion for several men, among them a principled engineer. Her restless pursuit of admiration leads her from Europe to Argentina, where ambition, jealousy, and pride unravel relationships. As fortunes rise and collapse, Elena confronts the destructive wake of her desires, suspended between genuine longing and the compulsion to dominate
Critique
Conceived as a vehicle for Greta Garbo, the film refines her emerging persona as a magnetic, destructive siren. Niblo balances cosmopolitan spectacle with intimate close ups that magnify Garbo’s enigmatic expressiveness. Though shaped by melodramatic conventions, the narrative gestures toward a modern ambivalence about female autonomy and desire. Its visual polish and emotional intensity confirm Garbo’s ascent while exposing the fragility of masculine ideals enthralled by beauty.
Technical sheet
- Director
- Fred Niblo
- Year
- 1926
- Country
- United States
- Running time
- 106 min
- Genre
- Romance, Drama
- Written by
- Dorothy Farnum
- Cinematography
- William H. Daniels, Tony Gaudio
- Cast
- Greta Garbo, Antonio Moreno, Marc McDermott, Lionel Barrymore, Armand Kaliz, Roy D'Arcy
- Production
- Cosmopolitan Productions
- Music
- Newly composed original score
Licensing
Screening availability
- Theatrical screenings
- Non-theatrical screenings
- Festivals and cinematheques
- Educational screenings
- Television broadcasting
- Digital platforms and streaming
- Promotional and editorial use
- Licensing of graphic and visual materials
Available formats
- DCP
- DCP with subtitles
- Apple ProRes
- MP4 Screening File
- MP4 Rehearsal Copy for Musicians (silent films)
- Blu-ray
- High-resolution archival masters
Promotional materials
- Posters
- Press stills
- Promotional assets
- Screening support materials
Available subtitles
- English
- Spanish
- French
- Portuguese
- Italian
- German
