Greta Garbo stars in The Mysterious Lady (1928), a silent espionage romance in which a Russian spy uses her wiles to obtain secret plans, only to fall in love with the Austrian officer involved, setting off a high-stakes cat-and- mouse between lovers and espionage. Key details
- Plot core: Tania, a Russian spy, seduces Austrian Captain Karl von Heinersdorff to acquire crucial plans, but emotional entanglements complicate loyalty and danger.
- Setting and genre: Pre-World War I espionage drama with romantic elements, produced by MGM and directed by Fred Niblo.
- Cast highlights: Greta Garbo as Tania; Conrad Nagel as Karl; Gustav von Seyffertitz as the spy chief.
- Reception and form: Notable as a late-1920s silent feature with Garbo’s star appeal; USC/IMDB synopses reflect classic noir-tinged spy romance, though the film predates the sound era.
Context and related notes
- The film is sometimes referred to by its international title La Belle Ténébreuse. It’s commonly cited as Garbo’s early breakthrough in international stardom and a representative example of early spy romance cinema.
- If you’re researching the era or Garbo’s filmography, you’ll often find comparisons to later spy thrillers for its blend of seduction and intrigue.
If you’d like, I can:
- Provide a short comparative glance with other Greta Garbo espionage roles.
- Pull release details, production notes, and critical reception from contemporary reviews.
- Summarize how The Mysterious Lady influenced later spy romance narratives.
